
Portugal has a rich history of currency, and understanding the past can be fascinating. The Portuguese escudo was the country's currency before the euro.
Before the escudo, Portugal used the real, which was introduced in 1430 and remained in circulation until 1911. The real was subdivided into 320 réis.
The escudo was introduced in 1911 and replaced the real at a rate of 1 escudo = 1000 réis. This changeover was a significant moment in Portuguese economic history.
Portugal's Currency Before Euro
Portugal's currency has a rich history dating back to the Roman Empire, where Roman coins were used until the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD.
The first coins minted in Portugal were called dinheiro, introduced by King Dom Afonso Henriques in the 12th century. This system was based on the Roman currency, where twelve dinheiros equaled one soldo, and twenty soldos equaled one libra.
The Portuguese real was the unit of currency from around 1430 until 1911, and was subdivided into 1,000 reis. It was used throughout the Portuguese Empire, including Brazil, until the early 20th century.
Currency Basics
Portugal's currency history dates back to the Roman Empire, where Roman coins were used until the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD.
The Portuguese dinheiro was introduced by King Dom Afonso Henriques, with the mealha as half a dinheiro. This system was based on the Roman currency.
Twelve dinheiros equaled one soldo, and twenty soldos equaled one libra. King Dom Sancho I introduced the gold morabitino, and later, King Dom Dinis I introduced the silver tornês.
In 1380, King Fernando I added new coins like the gold dobra and the silver real. Various other currencies like the Byzantine siliquae and the Moorish dirhem circulated alongside the dinheiro.
The real was the unit of currency of Portugal and the Portuguese Empire from around 1430 until 1911. It was subdivided into 1,000 reis.
Portugal's economic ties with other European nations were strengthened when it adopted the Euro in 2002. This marked a pivotal moment in Portugal's economic landscape.
Should I Exchange Money Before Arrival?
Exchanging money before arrival in Portugal can be a good idea, but it's worth considering the options. Exchanging a small amount at the airport for immediate expenses is convenient.
You can get a better rate by exchanging larger amounts in the city, where more competitive options are available. This is a good idea if you plan to be in Portugal for an extended period.
Portugal's Historical Currency
Portugal has a rich history of currency dating back to the Roman Empire, with the first coins used in Portugal being Roman coins. These coins were used until the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD.
The Visigoths and the Moors also minted their own coins, but it wasn't until the 12th century that Portugal started to mint its own coins, called dinheiro. This system was based on the Roman currency, where twelve dinheiros equaled one soldo, and twenty soldos equaled one libra.
The dinheiro was introduced by King Dom Afonso Henriques and had a large cross on the obverse and five shields arranged to form a cross on the reverse, which is now in Portugal's national arms. The denomination of half a dinheiro was called mealha.
The Portuguese real was introduced in 1380 by King Ferdinand I, which was subdivided into 1,000 reis. The real was used throughout the Portuguese Empire, including Brazil, until the early 20th century.
Portugal's Historical Journey
Portugal's historical journey with currency is a long and fascinating one. The country's first coins were Roman coins, used until the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD.
The Visigoths and Moors also minted their own coins, but it wasn't until the 12th century that Portugal started to mint its own coins, called dinheiro. This system was based on the Roman currency, where twelve dinheiros equaled one soldo, and twenty soldos equaled one libra.
King Dom Afonso Henriques introduced the Portuguese dinheiro, with the mealha as half a dinheiro. King Dom Sancho I later introduced the gold morabitino, and King Dom Dinis I introduced the silver tornês.
In 1380, King Fernando I added new coins like the gold dobra and the silver real. The real was subdivided into 1,000 reis, and was used throughout the Portuguese Empire, including Brazil, until the early 20th century.
The real was a unit of currency of Portugal and the Portuguese Empire from around 1430 until 1911. It was introduced by King Ferdinand I in 1380, and was worth 10 soldos (120 dinheiros or 1 libra).
King João I introduced a new real, known as the real branco, in bullion having a value of 70 soldos (equivalent to 840 dinheiros). The real branco was adopted as a unit of account by King Duarte I in 1433.
The real preto of one tenth of a real branco (equivalent to 7 soldos) was issued in copper during the reign of Manuel I (1495–1521). The name real branco was simplified to real, and real coins were minted in copper.
The smallest coins minted after the 1580s were the 1 réis coins. Later, the smallest circulating denomination became the three réis coin, issued until 1875.
Dinheiro
The dinheiro, Portugal's first official currency, was adopted in 1179 by King Afonso I. It was used until 1433.
The dinheiro was a result of Charlemagne's monetary reform, which established a standard based on the livre carolinienne in silver. This standard was subdivided into 20 sous or 240 deniers.
Coins derived from the French denier were the British pound, the Italian lira, the Spanish dinero, and the Portuguese dinheiro. The Portuguese dinheiro was subdivided into 12 dinheiros, which equaled one soldo, and 20 soldos equaled one libra.
A half-dinheiro was called a mealha. New coins introduced in the following centuries were the gold morabitino and the silver tornés.
Old Portuguese Currency
The Portuguese Escudo was the country's currency before the Euro. It was phased out in 2002.
The transition from Escudo to Euro was a significant moment in Portugal's economic history. Portugal wanted to strengthen its economic ties with other European nations.
The Portuguese Escudo was the currency used in Portugal before the Euro.
Transition to Euro

The transition to the euro in Portugal was a significant event. The euro was introduced in Portugal on January 1st, 1999.
In 2002, the escudo was gradually phased out, with coins in escudo being exchangeable for euros until December 31, 2002. This marked the official end of the escudo's circulation in Portugal.
On February 28, 2002, the escudo was replaced by the euro in circulation, bringing about a new era in Portugal's currency history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you still use escudos in Portugal?
No, Portuguese escudo banknotes are no longer accepted as legal tender in Portugal. You can convert your escudos to usable cash through our secure online service.
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