Coroa of João V

The Coroa of João V was struck from Brazilian gold that flooded Portugal's coffers, funding everything from palaces to papal indulgences.

That gold, panned from Minas Gerais' rivers, made these coins a tangible link to an empire built on ore and ambition. Weighing around 14 grams of nearly pure 22-karat gold, the Coroa featured João's profile on one side and the Portuguese coat of arms on the other, all in meticulous detail that reflected the era's craftsmanship.

Mintage figures for specific years are spotty; records from the 18th century often went up in smoke, literally. I once handled a 1730 specimen that showed the telltale wear of circulation, not some vault-kept relic.

It's amusing how these coins, meant to symbolize stability, ended up as collateral in João's extravagant debts.

Design variations occurred between 1725 and 1750, with later issues showing finer edges to combat clipping. All were produced in Lisbon, as far as we know.