1800 Brazilian Gold Coin Featuring Queen Maria I of Portugal Leads the Jan 13th Colorado Conductor Coin Auction

Minted in 1800, a Brazil gold PGA MS63+ coin featuring Queen Maria leads the Jan 13th Colorado Conductor Coin Auction from Gold Standard Auctions. This gold 6400 Reis by engraver José Gaspard featuring Maria I, Queen of Portugal (1777 – 1816) is also called the ‘half Johanna.’ These types of coins were minted at the Rio de Janeiro mint. Coin obverse reads “Maria· I· D·G· PORT· ET· ALG· REGINA 1793. R.”, meaning “Maria I, by the Grace of God, Queen of Portugal and Algarve, 1793 R.” The reverse features the crowned Shield of Arms of Portugal. Brazil’s gold 6,400 Reis (or ‘Half Johanna’) was one of the chosen money denominations during the Australian Proclamation of 1800 by Philip Gidley King, the Governor of New South Wales. Each type was given a high face value to retain coinage within the colony.

An 1892-CC Morgan Silver Dollar is another leading lot. It was designed by the seventh Chief Engraver at the US Mint, George T. Morgan (1845 – 1925). He was awarded a scholarship to attend the South Kensington Art School and worked for the British Royal Mint due to his exceptional talent for modeling and sculpting. The year 1876 marked a significant turning point in history, as the United States was experiencing a significant silver rush along with a boom in mining. The US could expand its money supply by issuing more silver dollars as the silver supply increased. The US Mint was led by Director Henry R. Linderman, who decided to begin new patterns for the silver dollar, termed the Morgan dollar, named after George T. Morgan. View the Jan 13th Colorado Conductor Coin Auction catalog and find other online auctions by visiting Bidsquare.