Soldo of Dinis I

This soldo from Dinis I's reign features a cross on the obverse, a design borrowed from French coinage to assert Portugal's growing trade links with Europe.

That cross wasn't just decoration; it helped standardize weights across the kingdom, reducing arguments at markets. The coin, struck in silver from local mines, weighed about 1.5 grams—light enough to carry in a pouch without weighing you down. Dinis pushed for better coin quality amid medieval counterfeiting, though records don't specify exact mint locations.

We don't know the precise mintage figures; those details burned up in palace fires centuries ago. As for myths, I've heard tales of these coins funding poetry contests—Dinis did love his troubadours—but that's likely exaggerated.

Some call it underappreciated; I call it efficient.