1704 GOLD PORTUGAL 4000 REIS PCGS MINT STATE 62 "CROSS AND ARMS"

KINGDOM OF PORTUGAL AND THE ALGARVES (1139-1910)

REIGN OF PEDRO II (1683-1706) - HOUSE OF BRAGANZA

GOLD FOUR-THOUSAND REIS CERTIFIED BY PCGS MINT STATE 62 "SUPERB CONDITION WITH BLAZING LUSTER"

OBV: CROWNED ROYAL ARMS OF PORTUGAL; VERTICAL VALUE LEFT.

REV: CROSS OF THE MILITARY ORDER OF CHRIST WITH QUATREFOILS IN THE ANGLES.

KM # 156

AFTER A LONG AND PROTRACTED DYNASTIC WAR WITH SPAIN, THE PERSONAL UNION OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL CAME TO AN END IN 1640. THE INCOME FROM PORTUGAL'S VAST OVERSEAS EMPIRE, THE BACKBONE OF THE WEALTH OF THE PORTUGUESE CROWN, WAS GREATLY ENHANCED BY THE DISCOVERY OF THE GOLD MINES OF BRAZIL DURING THE REIGN OF PETER II (1648-1706). PETER'S TREASURY WAS SO EXPANDED BY THE INFLUX OF GOLD THAT HE DISMISSED HIS CORTES-GERAIS (ASSEMBLY OF THE ESTATES OF THE REALM) AND RULED INDEPENDENTLY AND ABSOLUTELY WITH FINANCIAL FREEDOM.

DURING THE WAR OF THE SPANISH SUCCESSION (1702-1715), PETER II INITIALLY SIDED WITH LOUIS XIV OF FRANCE, BUT ALLIED PORTUGAL WITH BRITAIN IN 1703, THE YEAR BEFORE THIS GOLD 4,000 REIS COIN WAS STRUCK. THE TREATIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES CREATED MORE THAN A MILTARY ALLIANCE AND WOULD HAVE LONG LASTING COMMERCIAL/ECONOMIC PRIVILIGES GRANTED TO BRITAIN.

PORTUGAL AND HER BRITISH, AUSTRIAN, AND DUTCH ALLIES WOULD INVADE SPAIN IN 1703, AND BY 1706 THEY WOULD CAPTURE MADRID. HOWEVER, AT THE BATTLE OF ALMANSA IN 1707, A COMBINED SPANISH AND FRENCH ARMY CRUSHED THE ALLIES, HELPING TO CONSOLIDATE SPAIN FOR THE BOURBON KINGS.

CONTAINS 10.76 GRAMS OF .917 FINE GOLD (.3172 OZ AGW)

29 MM IN DIAMETER