Cruzado de D. João II

The Cruzado of King João II was minted from gold that directly funded Portuguese expeditions, including Bartolomeu Dias's 1488 voyage around the Cape of Good Hope.

That gold came from West African sources, a testament to Portugal's early trade networks. The coin itself featured a bold cross on one side, paired with the king's arms on the other—simple, functional designs for an era of expansion. We know it was produced in Lisbon, but exact mintage figures vanished in later archives, possibly during the 1755 earthquake.

Variations exist; some planchets show signs of wear from prior use, hinting at recycled metal. As for myths, I've heard tales of these coins washing up on distant shores, but that's likely exaggeration. The real story lies in their role as currency for a burgeoning empire.

One edge flaw on certain strikes resembles a map's outline, which some call serendipitous.