Big Joe from Brazil - Portugal Gold 12,800 Reis 1732 Minas Gerais

Portugal Brazil 12,800 Reis 1732-M (Minas Gerais)

Obverse: King João (John) V laureate head right, IOANNES V DG PORT ET ALG REX
Reverse: Portugal arms on crowned ornate shield

Gold, 38mm, 28.58gm, AGW 0.8424oz (actual gold weight in troy ounces)

These large coins were called "Dobras", made in Brazil from 1727 to 1733, and had a value close to the Spanish eight Escudo coin or "Doubloon".

They were known in the American colonies and other places as "Joes" from Johannes, the name of the king in Latin. They were mentioned in almanacs of the period and US Continental Congress foreign coin valuations, and were also a favorite of pirates.

This one was minted in the mining town of Vila Rica (Rich Village), now known as Ouro Preto (Black Gold), in the state of Minas Gerais (General Mines) which was the gold mining region north of Rio de Janeiro. The Vila Rica mint operated only from 1724 to 1734.

The large coins were made to keep up with the gold being produced in the Brazilian mining area Likewise, the United States started making twenty-dollar gold coins in 1849 to handle the gold produced in California.

These coins were twice the size of the more common Portugal Brazil 6,400 reis coins known as "Half Joes", one of the most circulated gold coins of early America.

Random notes:

I visited Ouro Preto in 1981, the place where my coin was made.


Ouro Preto, Brazil

And this coincidence:
The United States 2016 Centennial gold coin (Mercury Dime, Standing Liberty Quarter, Walking Liberty Half Dollar) AGW weights of 1/10, 1/4, and 1/2 oz. add up to 0.85 oz, close to the AGW weight of the Joe.

 

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That is a nice looking coin. Thanks for posting it.

Chris