Madeiran 10 reis copper coin of Maria II, 1842Image["Madeiran 10 reis coin of Maria II 1842"]
Image["Madeiran 10 reis coin of Maria II, 1842"]
Madeiran 10 reis copper coin of Maria II, 1842
This copper 10 reis coin is from Madeira. Madeira, a small group of islands in the North Atlantic, was settled by Portuguese colonists in the early fifteenth century, although it had been known by their sailors for much longer. By 1842, when this coin was minted, Portugal and therefore Madeira were under the rule of Queen Maria II (1826-28, 1834-53), divorced and in her second reign after a coup by her erstwhile husband (and uncle) King Michael (1828-34). The coin bears her name and titles around the royal arms on the obverse, and on the reverse its denomination in a wreath, with a legend marking its date and origin around.