10 centavos PORTUGAL (1969-1979)

in the centre five shields from Portuguese Coat of Arms; along the top edge: + REPVBLICA • PORTVGVESA + (REPUBLICA PORTUGUESA - Republic of Portugal); along the bottom edge year of issue

on coin top in two lines face value: 10 / CENTAVOS; below two olive branches

plain

4 VIII 1969

1 I 1982

Marcelino Norte de Almeida (signature M NORTE along the edge under right branch on the reverse)

Casa da Moeda (The Mint) (name until 1972)

Imprensa Nacional - Casa da Moeda (National Press - The Mint) (name from 1972), Lisbon

1969	???
1970	???
1971	25 673 000
1972	10 558 000
1973	3 149 000
1974	17 043 000
1975	22 410 000
1976	19 907 000
1977	8 431 000
1978	2 205 000
1979	9 083 000

The first King of Portugal - Afonso Henriques (Alfonso I the Conqueror) (ca. 1109-1185) - had in his Coat of Arms a blue cross on a silver shield into which five silver coins were composed. The coins symbolised the right to mint money. Alfonso's son - Sancho I - arranged the cross from five shields with five coins on each of them, which are until today in Portuguese Coat of Arms and flag.