The early 1800's saw the continued upheaval of Europe, as Napoleon expanded the French dominion over the continent. One state considered to be 'rebellious' under the French-proclaimed
Contiental System was Portugal. In 1807, aided by Spain, French armies invaded Portugal and occupied the capital, Lisbon. This action prompted King Joao VI of Portugal and his royal family to flee from the peninsula to the Portuguese colony of Brazil.
Rio de Janeiro was not prepared to become the new capital of Portugal, or the host of the king and his extensive retinue. Expenses increased dramatically in the colony and economic problems soon followed.
The circulating crown-sized silver coin of the time was the Spanish colonial 8 reales, mostly bust-type (post 1771/2), from the mints in Mexico City, Lima, and Potosi. In an effort to use state power to defray its own costs (a tactic abused many times over by the Spanish years before this), King Joao VI ordered the revaluation of the coins.
Up to that point, Spanish 8 reales were equivalent to about 750 reis (the reis being a monetary unit of Portugal, with 320 reis = 1 pataca). The coins were collected and overstruck with the coat of arms of Portugal, and with a value of 960 reis (3 patacas). The coin was called, among other names, the Novo Crusado. The revaluation generated a 'profit' of 25% per overstrike.
The fun of these coins, IMO, is to attribute the host. I bought one at the LB show which is fully attributable:
Brazil 960 reis
1819-R (Rio de Janeiro)
OBV: JOANNES VI. D. G. PORT. BRAS. ET. ALG. REX. (Joannes VI., by the Grace of God, King of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves) REV: SUBQ. SIGN. NATA. STAB. (Subquo Signo Nata Stabili) = Born under a steady sign
The coin over which this coin was struck is a 1789 8 reales from Mexico City, with the bust and name of Carolus III*, assayers F and M. Thus the host is 30 years older. The following pictures show where on this particular Novo Crusado the various o/s details can be found:
A close up of the overstruck date:
The overstruck mint mark:
And for reference purposes, an example of the host coin.
*In December 1788 Charles III of Spain died and the throne was taken by Charles IV. However, Spanish colonial coins of 1789 can have one or the other named, depending on how early in the year it was minted. The bust remained Charles III for several years more.
Hybrid Mode
