KINGDOM OF PORTUGAL AND THE ALGARVES (1139-1910)
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JOINT REIGN OF MARIA I "MARIA THE PIOUS", "MARIA THE MAD" (1777-1816) AND PETER III (1777-1786) - HOUSE OF BRAGANZA
GOLD 4 ESCUDOS (PECA)
CERTIFIED BY NGC ABOUT UNCIRCULATED 58
OBV: JUGATE BUSTS OF MARIA I RIGHT WEARING BEJEWELLED HAIRDRESS AND PEDRO III PERIWIGGED AND LAUREATE; DATE BENEATH BUST TRUNCATION.
REV: CROWNED SHIELD OF ARMS WITHIN CARTOUCHE WITH SCROLLED ORNAMENT AND GARLANDS.
KM # 281
MARIA I (b. 1734, d. 1816), WAS THE FIRST UNDISPUTED QUEEN REGNANT OF PORTUGAL AND THE ALGARVES (THE ALGARVES WAS THE SECOND DOMINION OF THE CROWN OF PORTUGAL 1242-1910) AND OF BRAZIL (COLONY 1500-1815, KINGDOM 1815-1825).
SHE MARRIED HER UNCLE IN 1760, WHO BECAME PEDRO III AT HER ACCESSION TO THE THRONE IN JURE UXORIS (REIGNED AS CO-RULER BY RIGHT OF HIS WIFE), FROM 1777 TO HIS DEATH IN 1786. THEY HAD SIX CHILDREN.
IT IS THOUGHT THAT LIKE HER UNFORTUNATE FELLOW MONARCH GEORGE III OF GREAT BRITAIN, SHE SUFFERED FROM PORPHYRIA, WHICH LED TO PROGRESSIVE ACUTE MENTAL ILLNESS. SHE WAS CONSIDERED TO HAVE BEEN A GOOD RULER PRIOR TO HER MADNESS. HER MENTAL STATE INCLUDED RELIGIOUS MANIA AND MELENCHOLIA. THE FIRST MARKED EVIDENCE OF HER ILLNESS OCCURED IN 1786, A YEAR AFTER THIS COIN WAS STRUCK, WHEN SHE COLLAPSED INTO A STATE OF DELIRIUM. HER CONDITION WAS MADE WORSE BY THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND THAT SAME YEAR, WHICH WAS A DEVASTATING BLOW TO THE AILING QUEEN. THE DEATH FROM SMALLPOX OF HER ELDEST SON AND HEIR, COMBINED WITH THE DEATH OF HER CONFESSOR, BOTH IN 1791, WERE TOO MUCH FOR HER TO BEAR, AND IN 1792 SHE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE INSANE. THE SAME DOCTOR THAT TREATED GEORGE III FOR HIS ILLNESS WAS BROUGHT IN TO TREAT QUEEN MARIA. HER SECOND SON, DOM JOÃO (THE FUTURE KING JOHN VI), TOOK OVER THE REIGNS OF GOVERNMENT IN HIS MOTHER'S NAME, AND WOULD OFFICIALLY BECOME PRINCE REGENT IN 1799. THE COURT WAS MOVED TO QUELUZ PALACE, WHEN THE MAIN RESIDENCE BURNED DOWN IN 1794. IT IS SAID THE BEDRIDDEN QUEEN'S SCREAMS WOULD ECHO THROUGH THE PALACE HALLS.
CONTAINS 14.3 GRAMS OF .917 FINE GOLD (.4216 AGW)
32 MM IN DIAMETER
