Obverse © A.Monge da Silva (CC0)
Obverse © A.Monge da Silva (CC0)
Mealha - Sancho II ND
| Billon (.083 silver) | 0.5 g | 15 mm |
| Issuer | Portugal |
|---|---|
| King | Sancho II (1223-1247) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 1223-1248 |
| Value | 1 Mealha = ½ Dinheiro (0.5) |
| Currency | Libra (1st Dynasty, 1128-1383) |
| Composition | Billon (.083 silver) |
| Weight | 0.5 g |
| Diameter | 15 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-07 |
| Numista | N#40415 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 88% |
Reverse
Lettering: PO RT VG AL
Comment
In the forals of the time, with regard to toll taxes, phrases such as: “Fish toll - 3 mealhas”, “...of skins 6 mealhas” can be found. Fernão Lopes(1418-1459) claims that they did not exist, and that people cut "Dinheiro" in half, and it was worth a mealha, which is after all half Dinheiro.In the many finds, an unusual number of half coins appears, which is not normal, and only reveals that the coins were actually broken in half as a form of payment.
If mealhas were to be minted, a practical problem would arise, since the diameter of the coins was not uniform: -How do you distinguish a "Mealha" with a slightly larger disc from one "Dinheiro" with a smaller disc?
Therefore, there is nothing to suggest that"Mealhas" were minted.
In neighboring kingdoms, during several reigns, Dinheiros and Mealhas (Obulos) with identical typology were minted. However, while the Dinheiros had diameters in the order of 16/18mm, the Mealhas were only 10/12mm.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Mealha - Sancho II ND (1223-1248) coin from Portugal is that it was issued during a time of great change and turmoil in the country. Sancho II was the king of Portugal from 1223 until his death in 1248, and his reign was marked by a series of conflicts with the Church and the nobility, as well as by the introduction of new coinage and economic reforms. Despite these challenges, the Mealha coin remained a widely used and trusted form of currency throughout Sancho II's reign and beyond.
