PORTUGAL, Kingdom. Sebastião I o Desejado (the Desired), 1557-1578. Pattern Engenhoso 1578 (Silver, 18x18 mm, 1.85 g, 12 h), Klippe. Lisboa (Lisbon), a later pattern or fantasy issue from the 17th to early 19th century. SEBASTIAN•I•REX•PORTV Crowned coat of arms between mintmaster initials G - A. Rev. ✠IN - HOC - SIGNO - VINCES Cross of the Portuguese Order of Christ with date 1-5-7-8 in angles. Gomes -. Teixeira de Aragão p. 277 and pl. XIX, 11 (very likely this piece). Apparently unique. Beautifully toned and of great numismatic interest. Good very fine.


This intriguing piece has sparked considerable interest in Portuguese numismatics since the mid-19th century. It was first documented by César Famin (1804–1853), the French consul in Portugal, in 1847 through a handwritten note later accessed by Augusto Carlos Teixeira de Aragão. Teixeira de Aragão subsequently published an idealized illustration of the piece in his work Descripção geral e historica das moedas cunhadas em nome dos reis, regentes e governadores de Portugal (Lisbon, 1875, p. 277 and pl. XIX, 11).

The exact nature of this piece remains a mystery. It appears to imitate the design of the Engenhoso (a 500 Reais gold coin; see Gomes 63.01) from the reign of Sebastião I, despite the original ceasing production after 1566. The letters 'G' and 'A' are believed to refer to João Gonçalves (GonçAlves: G-A), the engraver behind the Engenhoso under Sebastião I. Some have speculated it could be a prototype for an unrealized 250 Reais coin, yet there is no evidence linking it to an official pattern from the Lisbon mint. In fact, it seems improbable that the piece dates back to the 16th century. However, the terminus ante quem of 1847 suggests it might have been produced in the 18th or even the 17th century. Whether it was a government commission or a fantasy issue intended to mislead collectors of the period remains uncertain, making this piece one of Portuguese numismatics' enduring mysteries.

We kindly thank Marco Ramos for his valuable contributions to the discussion of this issue.