Dinheiro of Afonso III

The Dinheiro of Afonso III was struck from copper sourced locally in Portugal, a pragmatic decision that helped stabilize an economy reeling from the Reconquista's disruptions.

This made it one of the first coins to circulate widely across the kingdom, replacing the hodgepodge of foreign currencies. On the obverse, you'd find the king's monogram—AF for Afonso—paired with a simple cross on the reverse, both hammered into irregular flans that betray the rudimentary minting tools of the 13th century. No fancy alloys here; it was pure functionality.

We don't know the exact mintage, as records from that era are scarce, likely destroyed in later conflicts. What survives shows variations in weight and size, depending on the die used.

Minting these in Lisbon must have been a chore with the technology available—picture blacksmiths doubling as coiners.