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Historical Background
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Azores. Falcon countermark — “Açor” in Portuguese — on the obverse of a 1 real coin of Ferdinand and Isabella struck in Burgos, with an ermine at the end of the legend. Very few examples are known with this countermark, and none of them have been identified on this particular coin type. Extremely rare. Ex Tauler&Fau Selection (22/11/2022), lot 154.
The obverse countermark of this sample is a falcon - Açor in Portuguese - which became the insignia of the Azores (this mark is recorded in the Moedas Portuguesas Aragao p. 303 and plate XXII 6 and 7; and Moedas de Ouro de Portugal seculos V-XX p. 66).
Initially, the falcon was the mintmark of Angra do Heroismo. Later, it was used as a countermark to indicate that Portuguese coins minted outside the Azores were valid for circulation.
In 1580, Henrique I died without naming a successor. A struggle ensued with three contenders for the throne: Catarina, Infanta of Portugal, Duchess of Bragança; Philip II of Spain; and António I or Prior do Crato. Taking advantage of the hatred of the Spanish, Antonio was elected and proclaimed king by popular acclaim in July 1580.
However, his reign lasted only 20 days. Defeated by the Spanish at the Battle of Alcântara, he fled to the Azores, from where he attempted to rule Portugal as an opposition government unrecognised everywhere except in the Azores. Faced with a shortage of currency and unable to bear the cost of issuing the necessary coinage, Count Manuel da Silva, recently installed in Angra (1582), ordered the collection on 1 April of all the currency (initially only copper) in circulation to be marked with this stamp (Azor).
Finally, António went to France and England, where it was hoped that his return to Portugal would trigger uprisings there against Philip II. Unsuccessful, António ended his days in France on a small pension. VF. Est...1500,00.
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