40 Réis - João V (Province of Minas Gerais; Crown with 4 Arches; Lisbon)

Minted in Lisbon in 1722, this 40 Réis coin represents a period of intense economic expansion in Portuguese colonial Brazil. During the reign of João V, the discovery of gold and diamonds in the Minas Gerais region necessitated a significant supply of currency to facilitate trade and taxation within the colony. These copper pieces were specifically struck to circulate in the Brazilian market, serving as the essential small change for everyday transactions in a rapidly developing mining frontier.

The design features the crowned shield of Portugal, a standard motif of the era intended to project the authority and sovereignty of the House of Braganza across the Atlantic. The specific variety noted by the crown with four arches reflects the technical specifications of the Lisbon mint during the early 18th century. While these coins were produced in massive quantities to meet the colonial demand for base-metal tender, they remain significant historical artifacts that document the intersection of European minting practices and the resource-driven economy of 18th-century Brazil.