20 Réis - Maria I and Pedro III (Countermarked 10 Réis)

The 20 Réis coin featuring the joint reign of Queen Maria I and King Pedro III was minted in Lisbon for use throughout the Portuguese Empire, including the colony of Brazil. These copper coins were essential for daily commerce, reflecting the period of the 'Dona Maria I' coinage series, which aimed to establish the authority of the new monarchs following the death of King José I in 1777. The design is characterized by the prominent crown above the royal titles, a standard heraldic representation for Portuguese currency of the late eighteenth century.

The specific countermark of 10 Réis was a practical measure implemented by the Portuguese colonial administration to address localized currency shortages or revaluation needs. By stamping an existing 20 Réis coin, authorities could legally reduce its face value to 10 Réis to stabilize the monetary supply during times of economic volatility. This practice provides a tangible record of the administrative strategies employed to manage colonial currency systems, turning a standard circulation coin into a document of imperial economic policy.