Macau – Colonial Coins

The coins of Macau reflect more than four centuries of Portuguese presence in the Far East, beginning in the sixteenth century with the establishment of a trading post that soon became a strategic hub linking Europe and Asia. Portuguese administration gradually consolidated Macau as a unique economic and cultural centre where Eastern and Western traditions coexisted. For most of the colonial period, circulation relied on Portuguese coinage and foreign currency used in regional trade, with no local minting. Macau’s own coinage appeared only in the twentieth century, during the Republican period, with bronze, cupronickel and silver issues struck at the Lisbon Mint to meet the territory’s specific monetary needs. These issues continued until the late twentieth century, preceding the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1999. Coins issued after 1999 can be found under World Coins, in the section Asia – Macau.