Description
Portuguese Empire, State of Brazil, João of the House of Braganza, as Prince-Regent under his mother Dona Maria I, Silver 960 Reis (26.83g, 40mm), Countermark coinage 1808 AD, ‘Round Shield of Arms of Portugal’ and ‘Banded Globe’ countermarks on a Spanish Empire Eight Reales of Charles IV dated 1806 PTS PJ, Potosi mint, Bolivia (KM-73). Obverse: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of King Charles IV facing to the right, date below, legend surrounds, “CAROLUS· IIII· DEI· GRATIA·”, ‘Round Shield of Arms of Portugal within wreath above mark of value 960’ countermark over bust. Reverse: Royal Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Spain, Pillars of Hercules type (1700-1868), legend surrounds with mintmark, denomination and assayer toward the end, “·HISPAN· ET IND· REX·”, ‘Globe, made up of long bands, with diagonal sash’ countermark over escutcheon. KM-242. A well-recognized Brazilian countermark type, appears sea salvaged with typical surfaces although not as bad as often seen, evenly worn and the countermarks quite clear and well struck, host Very Fine, countermarks Very Fine/Extremely Fine.
The host coin’s obverse Latin legend reads “Carolus Quartus, Deī Grātiā”, with an English translation of “Charles the fourth, by the Grace of God”. The obverse legend continues onto the reverse and reads “Hispāniae et Indiae rēx”, with an English translation of “King of Spain and the Indies”.