Pataca of D. João IV in Brazil
Portugal
1645–1650
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$64.48
Based on Silver spot price ($80.83/oz) · 91.7% purity · 27.06g
Updated 2:59 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Portugal |
| Years Minted | 1645–1650 |
| Composition | 91.7% silver |
| Weight | 27.06 g |
| Diameter | 38 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
Bust of King João IV facing right
Reverse
Crowned Portuguese coat of arms
History & Notable Facts
This pataca from D. João IV's reign was struck on planchets recycled from melted Spanish reales, a shrewd move to repurpose captured silver amid colonial rivalries.
That practice reflected Portugal's resourcefulness in the 1640s, as the crown asserted control over Brazil while fending off Dutch incursions. Minted in Lisbon for overseas use, these coins featured the king's portrait and a cross, symbols of restored monarchy after the Iberian Union. We know the silver content was around 917/1000, but exact weights varied.
Records of the exact mintage figures burned in the 1838 fire at the Torre do Tombo archive, so precise numbers remain elusive. As for the design, it's straightforward: no frills, just the essentials on a well-worn silver disc.
One oddity: using enemy metal to fund empire-building. It worked, though.
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