Dobra Público Deposited
A gold coin of Portugal which was first issued in the reign of Pedro I (1357-1367) and equal to 82 Soldi.
At the beginning of the reign of John V (1706-1750) appeared the Dobra de oito Escudos, and the Dobra de quatro Escudos, valued respectively at eight and four Escudos, or 12,800 and 6400 Reis. The former coin was commonly known as the Joannes, and in the British West Indies, where they circulated extensively, this was abbreviated into Joe, the latter coin being called the half Joe. The striking of these coins ceased by virtue of a Portuguese proclamation of November 29, 1732. They gradually disappeared from circulation, and in time the half Dobras were improperly alluded to in some places and Joes instead of half Joes.
It should be added that in 1731 a Dobra of twenty-four and another of sixteen Escudos were struck. These large gold coins are illustrated by Aragao (pl. xli. 23, 24) and described by Meili.
In 1750, the Dobra, now reduced to four Escudos, or 6400 Reis, received the name of Peca, and this designation continued until its abolition early in the nineteenth century.
- Frey's Dictionary (American Journal of Numismatics, Vol. 50, 1916)