Brazil 1819-R Silver 960 Reis gEF

The 1819 Brazil Silver 960 Réis of King João VI is a fascinating coin struck during a pivotal era in Portuguese and Brazilian history.

The obverse shows a crowned wreath encircling the denomination 960, with the Latin legend JOANNES VI D G PORT BRAS ET ALG REX proclaiming João VI as King of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves.

The reverse features the Portuguese coat of arms placed over a globe, symbolizing the vast reach of the empire, with the motto SUBQ SIGN NATA STAB (“It shall stand under this sign”). With a milled edge and large silver flan, this coin is both historic and visually impressive.

There coins are also is notable for their overstrike nature, often struck on older Spanish colonial 8 Reales coins. This practice recycled existing silver, creating a layered numismatic history where remnants of the original coin are sometimes visible beneath the new Brazilian design, highlighting economic and practical minting strategies.