A Collection Of Coins From Portugal

Thanks all, I have 2 more in the postal system. Both fairly obscure. Just need to get them take pictures and try to find a little history about them. Many times I have to contact my mom or a dealer friend who knows a lot about the coins.

I always worry that I write too much, I'm happy the stories are interesting.

Today's coin while not technically from "Portugal" as the Islands of the Azores are officially autonomous regions. The autonomous regions were established due to their distinct geography, economy, social and cultural situation. Although they are separate from a political-administrative autonomy the Portuguese constitution specifies that there is both a regional and national connection, obliging their administrations to maintain democratic principles and promote regional interests, while still reinforcing national unity.

The Azores have a rich history in coinage, issuing their own coins from 1750 and currency from 1843 until 1911.Although the coinage was minted in Lisbon. With the changeover to Escudo, the 3 regions of Portugal (Azore, Madeira and mainland) are all on the same coins/currency.

The Azores are an archipelago composed of nine volcanic islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, about 1,400 km (870 mi) west of Lisbon and about 1,930 km (1,200 mi) southeast of Newfoundland, Canada. The island chain stretches for over 600 miles.

Its main industries are agriculture, dairy farming, livestock, fishing, and tourism. The largest city of the Azores is Ponta Delgada. The culture, dialect, cuisine, and traditions of the Azorean islands vary considerably, because these remote islands were settled sporadically over a span of two centuries.

There are nine major Azorean islands and an islet cluster. All of the islands have volcanic origins, although some, such as Santa Maria, have had no recorded volcanic activity. Mount Pico, on the island of Pico, is the highest point in Portugal, at 2,351 m (7,713 ft). If measured from their base at the bottom of the ocean to their peaks, which thrust high above the surface of the Atlantic, the Azores are among the tallest mountains on the planet. In many ways the Azores are comparable to the Islands of Hawai'i.

The climate of the Azores is very mild for such a northerly location, being influenced by the Gulf Stream. Because of the marine influence, temperatures remain mild year-round. Daytime temperatures normally fluctuate between 16 and 25 °C (61 and 77 °F) depending on season.Temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F) or below 3 °C (37 °F) are unknown in the major population centres. It is also generally wet and cloudy.

The coin:




The coin was much darker when I received it but there was a sticky substance on the observe, so it went into Acetone for a day and then it was conserved with Verdi-Care. What ever was on the coin only affected the obverse (where the date is).

This was a 1 year issue.


Issuer: Azores (Portugal)
King Charles I the Diplomat (1889-1908)
Type: Standard circulation coin
Year : 1901
Value: 5 Reis
Currency: Real (decimalized, 1843-1911)
Composition: Copper
Weight: 4.9 g
Diameter: 25.4 mm
Thickness: 1 mm
Shape: Round
Orientation: Coin alignment
Demonetized: 1915
References: KM16
Mintage: 800,000

Today's coin is 40 reis from the 1834. The coin was called a Pataco and it is very heavy and wide. The slab is oversized and won't fit in a standard case. This is one I wanted for a while and while they are available most are worn down to almost no details. These actively were used in commerce, coupled with how large they were resulted in almost all having a very weak strike. And the alloy mixture was pretty poor resulting in corrosion. This was just not a coin that is readily available in anything higher than XF. On PCGS only 3 have ever been graded with an AU 58 being the highest grade. The price of these also jumps high with an XF being $300 and AU in 4 figures.

I have a search on ebay and when this one came up, I started watching it. I didn't see much action, but I wasn't expecting it to sell cheap, so I put in a fairly low bid just seeing what it would sell for. Luckily for me it just didn't have good traction, I got it for less 50% of my max bid. I feel I got a bargain.

The coin was issued during the reign of Queen regnant Dona Maria II of Portugal. Here is a picture of the Queen when she was 10 years old in 1829.



In the cliff notes version of her life. She was born on on April 4 1819
She got married at 15, was the queen from May 26, 1834 - November 15 1853. Had 11 children and died at 34 years old on November 15, 1853, only 6 children made it to adulthood.

The coin.






There are so few slabbed that PCGS is using my coin for the page on the coin.

https://www.PCGS.com/valueview/port...1552&g=35&h=

Issuer: Portugal
Queen: Maria II (1834-1853)
Type: Standard circulation coin
Years: 1833-1847
Value: 40 Reis = Pataco
Currency: Real (mechanical coinage, 1678-1835)
Composition: Bronze
Weight: 38.2 g
Diameter: 35 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Shape: Round
Demonetized: Yes
References: KM402
Mintage (1834): Unknown

hfjacinto, I am greatly enjoying your Portugal coins and currency thread. Thank you for educating me on Portugese history and numismatics.

Thanks all! The coins I am looking for now are somewhat rare, so I sometimes have to take what I can find. I actually had 3 auctions going last week and the 40 reis was the only 1 I won. The others sold for so much more than FMV, with the gold coin selling for 4X bullion value and 2X FMV and it was details.

But I keep on searching as Portugal issued over 1100 coins before the euro, there are many I don't yet have.

Fantastic examples!