Portugal

The land within the borders of current Portugal has been continuously settled and fought over since prehistoric times. The Celts and the Romans were followed by the Visigothic and the Suebi Germanic peoples, who were themselves later invaded by the Moors. These Muslim peoples were eventually expelled during the Christian Reconquista of the peninsula. By 1139, Portugal had established itself as a kingdom independent from León. In the 15th and 16th centuries, as the result of pioneering the Age of Discovery, Portugal expanded Western influence and established the first global empire, becoming one of the world's major economic, political and military powers.

The numismatics of Portugal is mainly determined by gold. Thus, the Portuguez - a coin made of almost pure gold of 39,9g weight - has been widely imitated since its introduction in 1499, especially in the German and Scandinavian countries. The popularity of the so-called Portugaleser is unbroken until today and thus announces the illustrious heritage of Portuguese coin art.