Description
Portuguese Empire, Brazil, John V ‘the Magnanimous’, King of Portugal 1706-1750 AD, Gold Half Johanna of 6400 Reis, 1750/47 B, Bahia mint. Obverse: Laureate Bust of King John V of Portugal facing right, legend around, “IOANNES. V. D.G. PORT. ET. ALG. REX. 1750. B.”. Reverse: Crowned, ornate Shield of Arms of Portugal. KM-151. An attractive first type half Johanna minted in the last year of King John V’s reign, also with a clear 50 over date 47 error, near Extremely Fine.
The Portuguese 6,400 Reis (or Half ‘Johanna’) was one of the denominations chosen during the Australian Proclamation of 1800 by Philip Gidley King, the Governor of New South Wales. It was given a high face value in order to disincentivize the removal of circulating currency from within the Australian colonies, being revalued at Two Pounds. This coin, although a type struck by Portugal and her colonial empire, is still considered a piece of Australia’s early colonial history as a proclamation piece.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “Iōannēs Quintus, Dei Gratia, Portucalis et Algarviae Rex”, which has an English translation of “John the Fifth, by the Grace of God, King of Portugal and the Algarve”.