Counter marked coins ? What's it all about ?

I've seen a few and I have a 40 Reis coin which is counter marked but why ? Any ideas what this one is supposed to be; I find it odd like that is all.

  "The minting of copper forty réis began in 1693 and continued until 1833, well after independence. The forty réis was the same size as that of the old twenty réis. This type was struck at Bahia 1824-30, Cuiaba 1823-31, Goias 1823-30 and Rio 1823-31. Counterfeits are numerous, particularly of the Bahia issues, which were cruder than Rio issues.
   By the 1830's, so many had been issued that the public began to refuse them. In 1835, the government called them in and countermarked them to half their former value to increase their acceptance. Private and counterfeit countermarks also exist, making this series confusing but fascinating to collect."

  So it started out as 40 Reis, then got restamped to 20 Reis - is that what you have?

Seems a mine field lol ! I understand that British ones were usually emergency coinage but don't get what the emergency really was haha ! The Brazil one I have is a 40 like here some pics.. Again I'm sorry they are upside down "/ I can't alter them on my iPhone for some reason and I ain't sure why they're upside down as they weren't taken like that :S

ZacUK are you the only other English speaking person on here ? Haha

 I wonder that too sometimes. I made my 1,000th post recently (and pointed it out) and not one member congratulated me. Also I look up stuff for people and get hardly any thanks; sometimes wonder why I bother.

Yeah, I've noticed you are the only person that's helped me like haha - although I think the catalogue bit on here is brilliant, I can't help but think there might be other sites which are better for help as I have a few items with me being new to this (was a hobby as a kid which I've just re-found) but I hate to ask "what's this" too often as its only you that answers and I feel like I'm taking the pee !

Quote: Mark240590... but I hate to ask "what's this" too often ...

 

As long as it is not too old, and ideally has lettering that can be read, then I like a challenge! You can send your queries with pictures to me as a Private Message if you like.  

Aha ! I will have a dig around as get some decent pics for you then most of my stuff ain't too old I do have some hammered stuff only the nice ones and Durham mints like but I am really looking to get one of every form from the British empire which is proving fairly hard although I have alot there is always somewhere else I find or another wording for instance I have straits settlements but have just found British borneo worded examples too ! I am yet to find a decent encyclopaedia for each nation/settlement and it's coins as they generally seem
To be grouped but as said there seems to be earlier ones which have individual names :S one in particular I would like is a colonial American "/

Quote: ZacUKI wonder that too sometimes. I made my 1,000th post recently (and pointed it out) and not one member congratulated me. Also I look up stuff for people and get hardly any thanks; sometimes wonder why I bother.

Well, I've noticed your contribution for sure.