Coins And History

I think you probably are realistic/ but when these treasure ship wrecks are found, most material on board are gold cobs/ bars/ silver 8 reales/ bars/ milled 8 escudos. Here is one of mine from Luz wreck....one of my first coins ever
I had worked back then for a lawn company/ saved 10 paychecks to buy it from Stacks. I am also a mere mortal/ cut peoples lawn/ weed flowerbeds

 

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Philip Le Bon
AV Cavalier d'or ND
Brussels Mint
Philip was Duke of Brabant/ Flanders/ Liege/ Hainault/ Holland/ Namur/ Tournai. This greater area was known as Burgundy. In 1420 he allied himself with Henry V of England under the Treaty of Troyes. In 1430 he captured Joan of Arc/ sold her to the English, who later roasted her on the stake. In 1435, seeing his English buddies where now on the loosing side in the Hundred Years War, became a turncoat and pledged his allegiance to Charles VII of France. In 1439, he broke his alliance with Charles and sided with the French nobles and Louis the son of the King. That would come back to hurt him later, when the Dauphin became Louis XI "the Spider King". Later Louis would extend French power into Burgundian territory.

 

In 1807, Napoleon forced the Portuguese court into exile. Relocating to Rio de Janeiro, Portugal became the colony -- its kingdom ruled from Brazil. This transfer of power was formalized in 1815 when the Reino Unido de Portugal, Brasil e Algarves was established and Rio de Janeiro became its capital. This is the only example of a European nation ruled from one of its colonies. The Portuguese court returned to Lisbon in 1821 with Brazil gaining its independence the following year.



My example from this period is an 1810 960 Reis from the Rio de Janeiro mint, overstruck on a Potosi 8 reales. The counterstriking of 8 reales was superseded by the full overstrikes starting in this year. The host coin's bullion value was only 750-800 reis, at this time; the inflation to 960 reis was done to generate revenue for the crown.

On the obverse is the Portuguese coat of arms; on the reverse is the armillary sphere. The armillary sphere, an astronomical and navigational instrument of huge importance during the Age of Discovery, became a national emblem of the Portuguese Empire.

 

Wow! Beautiful coin with a super cool history - me like!

 

That is a stunning 1810. I have a few of these but none in that condition. That's quite scarce and of the 1st year for general circulation too! These were made starting in 1809 but those are patterns in bronze and silver.


There was a website just devoted to discussing the history & origins of the 960 reis but sadly it no longer exists and I apparently didn't copy it.

I should add that inflation occurred with the Brazilian currency and by the late 1820's the silver in a 960 reis was worth more than 960. This was the nominal value and I understand they were spent for more than 960. Latter years, particularly in the 1830's are worth quite a bit as the silver was worth more than 960 reis. These were apparently not overstruck [I think] but are new flans. There is a small hoard of nice unc 1832's which keep popping up for sale

The Brazilian Gov't, being very logical back in the 1800's issued a "2nd Silver Series". These were denominated in the same fractions as the 960's { which was 3 patacas}. Thus they were 1200 reis, 800 reis (rare), 400 reis, 200 reis, and 100 reis. All were .9166 silver. However thy were minted in really minute quantities and never took hold.

My link to the 2nd silver series.
https://coinsandhistory.com/countries/Latam_Brazil/Braz_20_Empire.html#Brazil_1200R

 

This first large cent really has LOTS of stories associated with it. The design's lack of popularity with the public, the "AMERI." debate, the quick replacement of the design by the wreath reverse, etc. Is this your coin? Wow - very nice!!!

 

I've got a medal with a nice story.

In the late 1600’s, Russian Tsar Peter the Great travelled extensively throughout Europe and noticed how the fashion and habits were different. Around 1698, he decided that his countrymen should be groomed in a similar fashion as modern European men. He ordered that all Russian men must shave and, if any Russian does not want to shave off his beard, he must pay a Beard Tax. If a man were rich enough to pay the annual tax, this was his receipt – a so-called Beard Token. He must carry it with him at all times as evidence of payment, if the police stops him. Otherwise, the police can forcibly shave him in public.

The obverse says “Money Taken” and the reverse, in Cyrillic characters, reads “Year 1705” below the Russian double eagle emblem.

 

Basil II aka "Bulgar Slayer" 976-1025AD
Byzantine Empire
AV Histamenon ND/ Constantinople Mint
He was one of the greatest Emperors. He had successfull campaigns vs the Khazars/ Fatimid Caliphate and the Bulgars.
He got his nickname from his Bulgar Wars. After a battle he would blind all POWS/ except one to lead the blinded ones back too Bulgaria. He did this to tens of thousands of Bulgar POWS. The rest where KIA on the battlefield

 

Wow, you have two examples! I only have the one from Brabant/ Antwerpen Mint
Yes, Karl V really kicked Francois II butt at Pavia in 1526/ then shamed Pope Clemente VII by sacking Rome in 1527, throwing him in jail, for supporting the French invaders in Italy.

 

AV Quadrupla Parma Mint
Piacenza
Alessandro Farnesse Duke of Parma

This man was sent by Philip II to restore order in the Spanish Netherlands. He defeated the Protestants armies in the South, then same in North. Now, he faced English soldiers sent by Elizabeth I/ again he won a major victory. Now, Philip II sick and tired of Elizabeth's bad treatment of English Catholics/ and her privateers like Drake who plundered Spanish galleons, and stole their gold shipments from the New World, decided on invading England. Farnese suggested that an army of 300,000 Spanish troops could do the job, aided by English Catholics. Philip over ruled him, and the rest is history. Farnese later would aid Catholics in French religious wars. A great military leader.

 

I kinda feel sad

 

You are the evil villain who outbid me..

Jesting aside beautiful coin

 

Doug already posted about the history of the Franc a Cheval so I'll just post my example without any added context other than stating unlike his mine is actually French Charles V to be exact

 

Excellent example! Charles V much like German Emperor of same name, where able to win battles. Charles, took back much of the French territories lost by John II/ Philip Augustus. All this was in vain, when Charles VI lost it all to the English invaders under Henry V.

 

AV Ducato ND Roma Mint
Pope Nicholas V 1447-55
Papal States
In 1447 he succeeded Eugenius IV. During his reign, the "Hundred Years War" finally ended. Also in 1452 he crowned Friedrich III as the new Holy Roman Emperor/ the last one in Rome. He advocated for a new crusade against the Ottoman Turks, when young Sultan Mehmet II attacked Constantinople in 1453. This fell on deaf ears, finally a fleet of Venetian/Allied Powers sailed for Constantinople, by the time they arrived the city was in Turkish hands.

 

Following on from jgenn's 1658 crown of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, here is a shilling of Charles II from his first hammered issue ((1660-61) after he regained the throne in 1660