POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Overstamped Brazilian Nine Hundred Sixty Reis coin

Object No. N9580

Coin, Eight Reales, counterstamped Nine Hundred Sixty Reis, Charles IIII of Spain (1788-1808), silver, designed by Juan Palomo Sierra, made by Potosi Mint, Bolivia, issued in Brazil, 1805 / c. 1808

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Summary

Physical Description

Counterstamped coin, insert edge type OBVERSE: central effigy of Charles IIII of Spain, facing right, counterstamped with circular stamp featuring coat of arms surrounded by a laurel leaf / 960, surrounding legend, "CAROLUS. IIII. DEI. GRATIA. 1805." REVERSE: central effigy

DIMENSIONS

Depth

2 mm

Diameter

39 mm

HISTORY

Notes

There are several possible prototypes from which Macquarie may have gain the idea of a "Holey Dollar" coinage, and this counterstamped Spanish Dollar of Charles IV, Santiago Mint, 1805, is one. Counterstamped with a circular stamp revaluing the coin at 960 Reis, for use in Brazil when the seat of Government was transferred temporarily from Lisbon to Rio-de-Janeiro, in 1807-1808, it has the appearance of a Holey Dollar. As Rio was frequently used as a port of call by ships voyaging to New South Wales, coins of this type might well have been familiar to Governor Macquarie. - From Sydney Mint Museum label written by curator, Major HP (Pat) Boland, c1982

SOURCE

Credit Line

Gift of Australian Museum, 1961

Acquisition Date

27 February 1961

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