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

526 The Coins of Europe
in gold the dobra, the cruzado (replacing the marabotin above
the ceitil.
cited), in silver the tostao and real, and in copper
Of the cruzado there were at least four types, including the
pinto and nuevo cruzado. From the reign of Peter II.
(1683-1706) at least the idea or principle of public utility
and convenience is
proclaimed on the pieces in the inferior
metal in the phrase publics ntilitati, which forms part of the
reverse legend. The ordinary values are limited to 10 and
5 reis but of
; Joilo or John III. we have the 3 reis or copper
real (1550), and of Joao IV. and Peter II. the i^ reis, 1653,
I
^95, 1700, etc. The former was often reissued in later
years but the ; moiety
is not found. Two remarkable
features in this series are the repetition on the earlier gold and
silver of the titles on either side, and the absence of a second
legend and the omission and withdrawal of the Dei Gratia
of the latter on many of the pieces from the time of
John V. The motto, In Hoc- Signo Vinces, which replaced
others adopted from time to time, and which first
appears on
the coins of Emmanuel, has at length fallen into desuetude.
A salient and tolerably familiar trait in the Portuguese
system was the particularly early introduction of heavy gold,
which dates from the reign of Emmanuel (1495-1521), and
exists in some rare 4OOO-reis pieces of that prince and his
successors. It was the precursor of similar coins in the
same metal issued under succeeding monarchs, and culminating
in \.\iQdobra= 20,000 reis. These large values belong,
for the most part, to the later years of the reign of John V.
(1706-50). They not only set the example of an analogous
practice in other countries, such as Denmark, where
the sixteenth-century portugaloser (
= i o crowns) indicated
name the source of suggestion, but probably initiated a
by its
custom, where no adequate local facilities existed, of importing
such striking productions for complimentary gratuities to
civil, military, and diplomatic officials.
During centuries,
while Russia remained without any national coinage deserving
the name, the Czars borrowed from their more advanced
contemporaries the means of rewarding desert or propitiating
favour.