The Portuguese monetary reformation of 1688

Its impact on Brazil and the mercantilist ideas

Authors

  • Rafael da Silva Coelho Universidade de São Paulo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2179-5487.v13i13p31-47

Keywords:

currency, monetary law of 1688, patacas, money of account, debasement, colonial commerce, mercantilism

Abstract

This article aims to contribute to the knowledge about money problems in Brasil at the end of 17th century. At that time, Portugal and vast regions of Europe went through a long economic stagnation, associated with the secular recessive trend that would have mastered that century. Within the parameters of the mercantilist thougth, among other measures, the Portuguese Government undertook a monetary reform for the purpose of remedy at least in part, money evasion suffered by the kingdom. It was decided that reformist law of August 1688 should be applied to Brazil, where it triggered many complaints because the monetary reform, if applied in the colony, would diminish the value of most currencies circulating in the main squares of Portuguese America.

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Published

2017-04-18

Issue

Section

Dossiê temático: Império e Colonização

How to Cite

The Portuguese monetary reformation of 1688: Its impact on Brazil and the mercantilist ideas. (2017). Revista Angelus Novus, 13, 31-47. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2179-5487.v13i13p31-47