Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Triton XXIII 14-15 Jan 2020
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PORTUGAL, Kingdom. João III o Piedoso (the Pious). 1521-1557. AV Português – 10 Cruzados (38.5mm, 34.90 g, 11h). Lisboa (Lisbon) mint. + IOANES : 3 : PORTVGALIE : AL : D : G : C ·: N·C · ETI : ARBI :, crowned coat-of-arms set on open scroll inscribed PERSIE INDI; L R flanking, each surmounted by three pellets / (sun with six pellets) IN HOC SIGNO VINCEES (stops of wedges with three pellets) on open scroll around margin, Jerusalem cross within quadrilobe. Cf. Grierson, Coins of Medieval Europe 395 (for type); Gomes 105.04a; cf. Vaz J3.06–10 (for type). A most impressive coin. Small shroff mark above crown on obverse. VF. Very rare.
From the Richard A. Jourdan Collection of Medieval European Coins, purchased from Paulo Esteves Lda., January 2019.
Gold in the late 15th Century, with the exception of the productive mines in Hungary, came mainly from Africa. 'In 1434 the Portuguese passed Cape Bojador, which had for long seemed to limit the way south, and a decade later the first gold dust from Senegal, paid in exchange for some Africans carried off to Portugal a year previously, was received by the agents of Henry the Navigator. In January 1482 the fort of Elmia (Mina de Ouro, properly Sao Jorge da Mina), where gold could easily be obtained by trading with natives, was founded on the Gold Coast, and in 1485 João II of Portugal assumed the titled of lord of Guinea. The minting of gold had been resumed in Portugal before the mid century, and gold cruzados were struck in great quantities by John II and Manuel, the latter event striking for commercial use a huge ten-ducat gold piece known as a portuguez.It had taken only a few decades for one of the poorest countries in Europe to become one of the richest.' Grierson, pp. 178-179.
From the Richard A. Jourdan Collection of Medieval European Coins, purchased from Paulo Esteves Lda., January 2019.
Gold in the late 15th Century, with the exception of the productive mines in Hungary, came mainly from Africa. 'In 1434 the Portuguese passed Cape Bojador, which had for long seemed to limit the way south, and a decade later the first gold dust from Senegal, paid in exchange for some Africans carried off to Portugal a year previously, was received by the agents of Henry the Navigator. In January 1482 the fort of Elmia (Mina de Ouro, properly Sao Jorge da Mina), where gold could easily be obtained by trading with natives, was founded on the Gold Coast, and in 1485 João II of Portugal assumed the titled of lord of Guinea. The minting of gold had been resumed in Portugal before the mid century, and gold cruzados were struck in great quantities by John II and Manuel, the latter event striking for commercial use a huge ten-ducat gold piece known as a portuguez.It had taken only a few decades for one of the poorest countries in Europe to become one of the richest.' Grierson, pp. 178-179.