Coins of King Carlos I (1889-1908)

The coins of King Carlos I (1889-1908) represent the final stage of the Portuguese constitutional monarchy and constitute the only reign in which all monetary inscriptions were written entirely in Portuguese, temporarily abandoning the traditional use of Latin. Carlos I, known as “The Unfortunate”, was born in 1863 and became the thirty‑fourth King of Portugal, ruling during a period of political instability, economic difficulties and rising social tension. Married to Queen Amélie of Orléans, his reign combined scientific and cultural progress with a deepening national crisis. The coinage of this era features the uniform legend CARLOS I REI DE PORTUGAL and was issued exclusively in bronze and silver, with modern iconography characteristic of late 19th‑ and early 20th‑century minting.