How to Identify the 1 Escudo
A collector's guide to confirming the 1910 Portuguese 1 Escudo by its republican legend, allegorical head, crowned shield, and large silver format.
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Start With the Legend and Date
Read the obverse text first. A genuine coin of this type reads REPUBLICA PORTUGUESA and carries wording referring to the fifth of October (DE OUTUBRO) with the date 1910. The republican legend, rather than a Latin royal titulature naming a king, immediately separates this issue from monarchy-era Portuguese coins.
Confirm Both Sides Match the Type
The obverse must show a female head in profile facing right, an allegory of the Republic, not a bearded or crowned monarch. The reverse must show the Portuguese national shield, with its arrangement of castles and small quinas beneath a crown, next to the value 1 ESCUDO. If the obverse shows a named king's bust or the reverse lacks the crowned shield, it is a different coin.
Check Size, Weight, and Metal
This is a crown-sized silver coin, on the order of 37 mm in diameter and roughly 25 grams. It should feel dense and substantial and have the bright tone or attractive gray patina of struck silver. A lightweight, thin, or magnetic piece of this design is a warning sign, since the genuine coin is high-fineness silver and non-magnetic.
Rule Out Look-Alikes
Portugal issued other early republican silver denominations, such as 50 centavos and larger multi-escudo pieces, that share the allegorical style but differ in size and stated value; always read the denomination. Later escudo coins of the same country are base metal and much lighter. Matching all cues together, the republican legend, the female allegory, the October 1910 reference, the crowned shield, and the 1 ESCUDO value, is what pins down this exact type.
Authentication Cautions
Because it is a valued silver type, this coin attracts counterfeits and altered dates. Weigh and measure the piece and compare the portrait and shield details to trusted reference images, watching for soft, mushy strikes, wrong weight, or seams that suggest a cast fake. Cleaning is common and hurts value, so favor coins with original, undisturbed surfaces, and for higher-value examples consider third-party authentication.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know it is republican and not a monarchy coin?
Look for REPUBLICA PORTUGUESA and an allegorical female head instead of a named king's portrait. Monarchy-era Portuguese coins name a monarch and show a royal bust, which this type does not.
What size and weight should it be?
Expect a large silver crown of roughly 37 mm diameter and about 25 grams. It should feel heavy and dense; a thin or lightweight coin of this design is suspect.
How can I tell it from other early Portuguese silver coins?
Read the denomination on the reverse. This piece states 1 ESCUDO; related issues such as 50 centavos or larger escudo values share the style but differ in size and stated value.
Is it worth authenticating?
For anything beyond a well-worn example, yes. As a desirable silver type it is faked, so verifying weight, diameter, and design details, or using third-party certification, protects against counterfeits and altered coins.