200 Réis - Charles I Discovery of India

Reverse

Cross of the order of Christ with rosettes in the angles, legends in periphery

Script: Latin

Lettering:
* 4°CENTENARIO DA DESCOBERTA DA INDIA *
200 REIS
IN HOC SIGNO VINCES
1498-1898

Edge

Reeded

Comment

The law of May 21, 1896 authorized the manufacture of commemorative coins of 200, 500 and 1000 Reis in silver.
These coins commemorate the arrival of Vasco da Gama in India in 1498. The Portuguese navigator left Lisbon on July 8, 1497 and reached Calicut in India by sea, via the Cape of Good Hope, on May 2, 1498.

This is an automatic translation. The original text is:

La loi du 21 mai 1896 autorise la fabrication de monnaies commémorative de 200, 500 et 1000 Reis en argent.
Ces monnaies commémorent l’arrivée de Vasco de Gama en Inde en 1498. Le navigateur portugais part de Lisbonne le 8 juillet 1497 et rallie par les voies maritimes, via le Cap de Bonne-Espérance, le 2 mai 1498 Calicut en Inde.

Interesting fact

One interesting fact about the 200 Réis - Charles I (Discovery of India) 1898 coin from Portugal is that it was minted to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Vasco da Gama's voyage to India, which marked the beginning of Portuguese colonization in the region. The coin's design features an image of King Charles I on one side and a depiction of Vasco da Gama's ship, the São Gabriel, on the other. The coin's silver content and weight also make it a valuable collector's item for numismatists.

• europe
• no period