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Auction 21006 7 Jul 2021
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Foreign Gold Coinage in Britain | The 'Half-Joannes' of 36-Shillings | Brazil, João V (1706-1750), 4-Escudos [6,400-Reis], 1738-R, Rio, laureate head right, rev. crowned and garnished shield, edge milled, 14.10g, 12h (Fb. 46; KM 149), significant distortion to edge at 12 o'clock where clunked by a plough and with light superficial marks consistent with soil deposition, otherwise very fine, and a rare discovery from a secure British context.
Provenance
~ Found Wheatacre, South Norfolk, since 2000 ~
,
Following the discovery of gold in the Portuguese Colony of Brazil, King João V would expand the production of his South American mint sites and implement a new escudo coinage in 1722. The abundance of this specie would permit its usage throughout the New World, into Continental Europe and eventually Britain largely through its colonies. English traders would hear of these new gold pieces called 'moeda de ouro' and ultimately corrupt the term to 'Moidore' in their every day parlance. This term would be used for the coin of 4,000-Reis, with the new issues becoming known as 'Joes', 'Johns' or 'Joannes' as a result of their design. Later in the 18th Century, the term 'Port Piece' would be adopted to reflect their Portuguese origin, and probably also King George III's decree that 'gold coin of this realm was to be the only legal tender for payments within the United Kingdom of any higher amount than forty shillings', thereby confining their use to the quayside. Following the retariffing of the Guinea at 21 Shillings in 1717, the present coin came to be valued at 36 Shillings within the British economy. With the final withdrawal of Hammered Gold specie from circulation in 1733, the use of imported gold undoubtedly aided this transition; as evidenced by the widespread usage of trade weights for this coin and contemporary crime reports:
,
"We learn from Bristol, that great search was made there after two Deserters (new recruits) who had lifted twice in one day in Col. Fisher's Company, of whom they had each a Guinea and a Crown; and then another Company, the Captain of whom gave them a Moydore and a Crown each, and were regularly sworn both times. The Col. hath lost 80l by Frauds of the new listed men." [Ipswich Journal, 27 May 1727]
,
"Yesterday, Peter Howison, flax-dresser was committed to the [Edinburgh] City Jail, by Warrant of the Right Hon. my Lord Strichen, upon a signed Information, that he had been guilty of misprision of Treason, and of counterfeiting the 36s Gold Pieces or Half Joannes's, till he is liberate in the course of Law." [Caledonian Mercury, 1 December 1743]
Estimate: £600 - £800
Provenance
~ Found Wheatacre, South Norfolk, since 2000 ~
,
Following the discovery of gold in the Portuguese Colony of Brazil, King João V would expand the production of his South American mint sites and implement a new escudo coinage in 1722. The abundance of this specie would permit its usage throughout the New World, into Continental Europe and eventually Britain largely through its colonies. English traders would hear of these new gold pieces called 'moeda de ouro' and ultimately corrupt the term to 'Moidore' in their every day parlance. This term would be used for the coin of 4,000-Reis, with the new issues becoming known as 'Joes', 'Johns' or 'Joannes' as a result of their design. Later in the 18th Century, the term 'Port Piece' would be adopted to reflect their Portuguese origin, and probably also King George III's decree that 'gold coin of this realm was to be the only legal tender for payments within the United Kingdom of any higher amount than forty shillings', thereby confining their use to the quayside. Following the retariffing of the Guinea at 21 Shillings in 1717, the present coin came to be valued at 36 Shillings within the British economy. With the final withdrawal of Hammered Gold specie from circulation in 1733, the use of imported gold undoubtedly aided this transition; as evidenced by the widespread usage of trade weights for this coin and contemporary crime reports:
,
"We learn from Bristol, that great search was made there after two Deserters (new recruits) who had lifted twice in one day in Col. Fisher's Company, of whom they had each a Guinea and a Crown; and then another Company, the Captain of whom gave them a Moydore and a Crown each, and were regularly sworn both times. The Col. hath lost 80l by Frauds of the new listed men." [Ipswich Journal, 27 May 1727]
,
"Yesterday, Peter Howison, flax-dresser was committed to the [Edinburgh] City Jail, by Warrant of the Right Hon. my Lord Strichen, upon a signed Information, that he had been guilty of misprision of Treason, and of counterfeiting the 36s Gold Pieces or Half Joannes's, till he is liberate in the course of Law." [Caledonian Mercury, 1 December 1743]
Estimate: £600 - £800