Portugal 1842 500 reis
This specimen was lot 73210 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2023), where it sold for $120. The catalog description[1] noted, "PORTUGAL. 500 Reis, 1842. Lisbon Mint. Maria II. PCGS AU-58. A beautifully toned silver piece. Speckled charcoal gray across the center mingles with electric blue on the peripheries. The fields flash with luster that catches the light (and the eye) with ease. This near-Mint example will doubtlessly impress its next owner." This silver five hundred réis (meia coroa) was struck 1837-53 in limited numbers. It is a common date of a scarce type. Maria II reigned 1834-53 after overcoming the usurpation of her uncle Miguel I. The next silver five hundred réis struck (KM 494 of 1855-56) was only 12.5 grams.
Recorded mintage: 135,000.
Specification: 14.8 g, 0.917 fine silver, .436 troy oz ASW, 30 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-471; Gomes-39.06.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Reis, Lina, Anuário de Numismática, Moedas e notas 2010, 31ª ediçao, Lisbon: Publinummis, Lda, 2009.
- Alberto Gomes and Francisco Antonio Magro, Moedas Portuguesas e do Território Que Hoje é Portugal: Catálogo das Moedas Cunhadas para o Continentes e Ilhas Adjacentes, para os Territórios do Ultramar e Grão-Mestres Portugueses da Ordem de Malta, 6ª Edição, Lisbon: Associação Numismática de Portugal, 2013.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, February 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the David Sterling Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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