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The Portuguese National Mint (Impresa Nacional–Casa da Moeda) is releasing a new collector coin on July 15th dedicated to the "Português," one of the most prestigious pieces in Portuguese numismatics. The issue revives the main symbols of that great gold coin minted during the reign of Manuel I and adapts them to a contemporary visual language through a design created by Jorge Silva.
The birth of "Português" was closely linked to the maritime and commercial expansion that transformed Portugal during the reign of Manuel I, between 1495 and 1521. In the first decades of the 16th century, Lisbon became one of the main European trading centers, a point of arrival for spices and oriental products, as well as ivory and gold from the Portuguese possessions in Africa.
Remittances from Arguim, Guinea, and especially São Jorge da Mina provided the Portuguese Crown with vast quantities of gold. According to data compiled by the Bank of Portugal, trade in the latter city contributed more than eight tons of the precious metal during the first half of the 16th century. This abundance of resources allowed for the creation of a large-scale coinage that functioned both as an economic instrument and as a symbol of the Portuguese monarchy's power.
Ten crosses on a single gold coin
The "Português" was worth ten cruzados and had extraordinary characteristics for its time. The original specimens weighed approximately 35.49 grams, were 35 millimeters in diameter, and had a purity of 23.75 carats, equivalent to about 989.6 parts per thousand of gold. Its value was initially 3,900 reales and rose to 4,000 reales in 1517.
Its considerable weight and extraordinary purity placed it among the largest and most valuable European gold coins of the early 16th century. Minting continued during the reign of John III, although its massive export to other markets eventually led to a significant shortage of gold coins in Portugal.
On the original coins, the obverse featured the kingdom's coat of arms and the monarch's extensive title. In it, Manuel I proclaimed not only his status as King of Portugal and the Algarve, but also his dominion over Guinea and his conquest, navigation, and trade with Ethiopia, Arabia, Persia, and India.
The reverse side displayed the Cross of the Order of Christ, usually accompanied by the Latin motto In hoc signo vinces, which can be translated as "In this sign you will conquer." These elements transformed the coin into a genuine political statement linked to the imperial and religious project of the Manueline monarchy.
The origin of the Portugalöser
The international prestige of the "Português" survived its disappearance as a regular issue. During the second half of the 16th century and the first decades of the 17th, various cities and territories in northern Europe began to mint large gold coins inspired by the Portuguese model.
These coins, known as Portugalöser or Portugaloids, generally maintained the weight and purity of the "Português" style, and also reproduced the Cross of Christ. However, they replaced the arms of Portugal with the emblems of their respective territories.
Imitations were minted in regions of present-day Germany, Denmark, Poland, and Sweden, especially between 1570 and 1640. Some of these even included inscriptions declaring that they had been manufactured according to the weight and standard of the "Português." Their existence constitutes one of the best pieces of evidence of the influence that Portuguese currency achieved in European markets.
CURRENCY
Obverse
The obverse features the Portuguese coat of arms in the center, superimposed on a stylized representation of the armillary sphere. Surrounding it are the word "Portugal," the year of issue 2026, the face value of 5 euros, and an indication of the metal's purity. Also included are the identification of the Mint and the name of the designer, Jorge Silva.
Reverse
The reverse of the coin features a large Cross of Christ, set against a striated background that visually reinforces the central image. The entire edge of the composition is occupied by the inscription: "Tenho em mim todos os sonhos do mundo" (I have within me all the dreams of the world), a phrase from the poem Tabacaria, written by Fernando Pessoa under the literary identity of his heteronym Álvaro de Campos.
PRESENTATION
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Face value 5 euros
Metal 999 Gold
Quality Proof
Weight 15.55 g
Diameter 30 mm
Design Jorge Silva
Print run 1,000 units
Date of issue July 15, 2026
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