Morabitino of Afonso III
Portugal
1248–1279
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$578.75
Based on Gold spot price ($4,831.225/oz) · 90.0% purity · 4.14g
Updated 5:37 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Portugal |
| Years Minted | 1248–1279 |
| Composition | Gold |
| Weight | 4.14 g |
| Diameter | 16 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
Depicts a central design, likely a globe or star, surrounded by Arabic-style inscriptions.
Reverse
Features inscriptions, possibly including the ruler's name or mint information.
History & Notable Facts
The Morabitino of Afonso III bore an Arabic inscription, a direct borrow from the Almoravid dinars that inspired it, reflecting Portugal's trade ties with North Africa.
This gold coin, weighing about 4 grams, was struck in Lisbon or possibly Coimbra, using high-purity gold from African sources. Afonso III issued it to fund his campaigns and stabilize the currency after years of instability. We know it circulated widely in Iberia, serving as a bridge between Islamic and Christian economies.
Exact mintage figures are lost to time; records from that era often burned in later fires or simply decayed. While some specimens survive in museums, their provenance can be murky.
For all its historical heft, handling a Morabitino today feels like gripping a sliver of the past that's lighter than expected.
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