Vintém of Afonso VI

This vintém from Afonso VI's reign was struck in Lisbon using copper that likely came from Brazilian mines, underscoring Portugal's colonial dependencies even amid domestic turmoil.

That makes it a tangible link to the era's economic strains. The coin features a simple design: the king's bust on one side, a coat of arms on the other, all on a modest copper flan. Weighing around 4 to 5 grams, it served as small change for everyday folk.

Records are spotty on exact mintage figures; what we have suggests thousands were produced annually, but the 1755 earthquake destroyed many archives. No one knows how many survive today.

Handling these, you notice the wear from constant use. People traded them for bread or ale, not glory.

Plenty claim these coins cursed by the king's madness. Nonsense; they're just copper, doing their job.