View source for Brazil 1760-B 600 reis

[[Image:Brazil 1760B 600 reis cs obv Heritage 3009-20417.jpg|300px|thumb|image courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries]]
[[Image:Brazil 1760B 600 reis cs rev Heritage 3009-20417.jpg|300px|thumb|image courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries]]

This silver 600 réis was minted at the Bahia mint for [[Brazil]] in 1752-60. This coin would have traded in the 18th century at about one-third of a Spanish dollar. The specimen was lot 20417 in Heritage sale 3009 (Chicago, April 2010), where it sold for $2,300. The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, "Jose I 600 Reis 1760B with Countermark, cleaned VF, pitted surfaces from oxidation. The strike is quite bold although the B mintmark has been effaced by the counterstamp. Rare date."  This type is rare; the contemporary Rio issue of 1754-70 ([[Brazil 1758-R 600 reis|KM 187]]) is more available. This specimen was counterstamped in 1809 to raise its value to 640 réis; see the paragraph below for details.

The catalog<sup>[1]</sup> commented on the "J-series" as follows: "During the reign of José I (1750-1777), with gold flowing out of the mines in the province of Minas Gerais, coins of the so-called 'J series' were struck at the Rio (R) and Bahia (B) mints for circulation in Minas. The purpose of these coins, with odd denominations of 75, 150, 300 and 600 Réis, was to facilitate the gold trade in the province. Gold value was determined in multiples of 150 Réis and corresponded to 4.5 grains (75 Réis), 9 grains (150 Réis), 18 grains (300 réis) and so on. Towards the end of the 18th century, as gold in the Minas mines diminished, the coins of the J-series were countermarked with a 'mini-shield' elevating its value to the standard 80, 160, 320, 640 Réis. Subsequently, in the first decades of the 19th century, the coins of the J series were restruck all together. Coins of this type are some of the most charismatic and challenging series in the vast realm of Brazilian numismatics, and finding a coin in higher than VF condition is extremely difficult."

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown.

''Specification:'' 18.11 g, 0.917 fine silver, .534 troy oz ASW.

''Catalog reference:'' KM 299, Russo 235 (with counterstamp).

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* Michael, Thomas, ''Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed.,'' Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
* Pimentel, Alvaro Mendes, ''Catálogo de Moedas Brasileiras de 1643 a 1962, 9a Ed.,'' Rio de Janeiro, 1962.
* Amato, Claudio, and Irlei S. Neves, ''Livro das Moedas do Brasil, 14a ed.'' Sao Paulo, 2015.
* 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.
* <sup>[1]</sup>Tucker, Warren, and Scott Cordry, ''Heritage Signature Auction 3009: World Coins,'' Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2010.

''Link to:''
* [[Brazil 1754-B 600 reis|1754-B 600 réis]]
* [[Brazil 1754-R 600 reis|1754-R 600 réis]]
* [[Brazil 1758-R 600 reis|1758-R 600 réis]]
* [[Brazil 1760-R 600 reis|1760-R 600 réis]]
* [[Brazil 1764-R 600 reis|1764-R 600 réis]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1760]]
* [[On the availability of "J" series Brazilian coins]]
* return to coins of [[Brazil]]

[[Category: Selections from Heritage sale 3009]]