5 Centavos 1935 Portugal

This 1935 5 Centavos from Portugal was minted in aluminum, a choice that reflected the Estado Novo's push for economical materials amid global depression. That made it lighter than its predecessors, weighing in at just over a gram, which must have pleased postal clerks tired of hefty change.

Design-wise, the obverse featured the Portuguese coat of arms, encircled by the nation's name, while the reverse simply stated the denomination and year. No fancy flourishes; it was straightforward, like most coins of the era. Mintage figures? They're murky, lost in the fog of old records, so I won't guess.

Aluminum brought practical benefits, resisting corrosion better than copper alloys, though it dented easily if you dropped it in a pocket full of keys. As for why they switched, it tied to Salazar's regime tightening belts after the 1929 crash.

That about sums it up.