W. C a r e w H a z l i t t Coinage of the European Continent

Descriptive Outline of the Coinages of Eiirope 5 1 9
The known
of the soldo burgalez, the soldo pcpionis (or \ s. burgalez),
and the malmodi ; and it is even uncertain whether the
maravedi di ouro of Sancho I.
(1185-1212), with the king
mounted and crowned on obverse, and a cross composed of
five heart-shaped shields cruciformly arranged, each shield
charged with four besants on reverse, was more than an experimental
imitation of a Byzantine prototype.
examples seem to correspond in weight (a little over 76 gr.
against 96 to the Byzantine solidns] and pattern
:
the obverse
legend is Sancivs Rex Portugalis, and the reverse reads
In Nomine Patris Et Filii Spiritus Sancti Amen.
A singular degree of uncertainty and obscurity
is
apparent
in regard to the numismatic history of the reigns
immediately following that of Sancho I. The dinJieiro
becomes more prominent under Diniz or Dionysius (1279-
1325) and acquires a more characteristic and autonomous
costume, and at this time twelve dinheiros of billon made a
soldo, and twenty soldi went to the libra or money of
account. The French gold franc, which was received in
currency, was taken as = 4 libras.
With Alfonso IV. (1325-57) the dinheiro progressed in
execution and fabric, but still remained the only piece or
type in the inferior metals, and during the whole of this
period considerable recourse was had to foreign currency
as a method of supplying the deficiency in internal production,
until commercial development and necessities compelled
the Government to place the national coinage on a
broader footing. The successor of Alfonso IV., Pedro
the first
I-
( : 3 5 7-67), took the initiative in introducing
regular gold money in the shape of the dobra and mea
dobra, and in reinforcing the dinheiro by the tornez and meo
tornez, modelled on the French piece of the same name. It
was the step taken, as we perceive, by
all the European
States in turn to facilitate transactions, agreeably to the
precedent created by the Italians, rather than by Louis IX.
The progress henceforth accomplished from reign to reign
probably superseded the call for foreign specie, as it evinced
the advance of the Portuguese in prosperity and wealth.