W. C a r e w H a z l i t t Coinage of the European Continent

28 The Coins of Europe
Spain ; but the zenith of its commercial prosperity and
political importance had been long reached when Philip II.
annexed it to his dominions. Subsequently to the revolution
of 1640, by which Portuguese independence was restored,
and John, Duke of Braganza, proclaimed king as John
IV., the annals yield very few incidents of intere'st to the
numismatist.
The coinage of the Portuguese is infinitely less intricate
than that of Spain for obvious reasons. There is merely the
usual currency of the counts and kings, supplemented by
that established during the sixty years of Spanish sway, and
by the money struck for Brazil and other colonies. The
most conspicuous features in the series are: I, the heavy
gold pieces, commencing at an unusually early period
about 1521 and preserving their continuity down to the
middle of the last century, while the national wealth still
outlived the wealth-earning power; and 2, the Spanish
II. and his two suc-
money issued in the names of Philip
cessors, some of which is of the most uncommon occurrence.
The coins of John IV. and Alfonso VII. (1640-67) are also
difficult to procure in desirable preservation. Respecting the
more modern numismatic productions there is
nothing special
to note. Some account of these will be furnished hereafter,
as well as of the coinage for Brazil, Goa, Guinea, Terceira,
Madeira, and the Azores. As far back as the closing years
of the fifteenth century some of the ordinary money of John
II. (1481-95) and Emmanuel (1495-1521) describe them
as Lords of Guinea.
Our survey of the European monetary system terminates
with a glance at that of modern Greece under Capo d' I stria
(1828-30), and of the Ionian Isles during the British protectorate.
The types used by the Turkish Government for
their possessions on the Continent belong rather to the
Oriental series, and are in any case of very slight import.
The parts of Europe where the Byzantine influence
lingered or survived the longest were the Eastern principalities
bordering on Turkey in :
Europe Sicily, and Venice.
In Servia, Cyprus, and Sicily, not only the style, but the