75 Réis - José I (Province of Minas Gerais; Bahia and Rio de Janeiro Mints)

The 75 Réis coin was minted during the reign of King José I of Portugal, specifically serving the colonial administration of Brazil. These coins were produced under the authority of the Portuguese Crown to address the need for small-change currency in the highly active colonial economies of Bahia and Rio de Janeiro, where the extraction of gold and diamonds from Minas Gerais required a stable medium of exchange for local commerce.

The design follows the standard heraldic tradition of the Portuguese monarchy during the mid-18th century, featuring the royal coat of arms on the obverse and the denomination within a wreath or simple field on the reverse. These pieces were struck in copper, reflecting a pragmatic approach to providing fractional currency for the burgeoning colonial population. While they served a utilitarian function in daily trade, they are today appreciated for their role in documenting the fiscal integration of the Brazilian provinces into the broader Portuguese Atlantic economy.