Centavo of Madeira 1917

This 1917 Centavo for Madeira was struck during the tail end of World War I, when Portugal's metal supplies were stretched thin by the conflict, making it a modest survivor of those turbulent years.

Weighing in at about 2.5 grams of bronze, the coin bears the Portuguese coat of arms on one side and the denomination on the other. No fancy engravings here—just straightforward regional currency intended for everyday use on the island. Records from the Lisbon mint don't specify exact production numbers; they were probably misplaced in one of the archives' many reshuffles.

As for myths, I've heard tales of these being hoarded as lucky charms. They weren't. Mostly, they circulated like any other coin, buying bread or paying taxes.

Some collectors note the patina can look like aged rust, which isn't far off.