First King of independent Portugal Republic.

So here we have the Portugal Republic escudo, nominal - 10. The year of issue of this coin is 1928, mint: Lisbon, Portugal Republic. Total circulation – 200.000.

The reverse of this coin depicts the first king of Portugal: – Afonso Henriques who was born 1109/11, Guimarães, Port. — died December 6, 1185, Coimbra. Afonso Henriques is famous for winning the Battle of Ourique that took place 1139.

The battle of Ourique took place on July 25, 1139, between Portuguese troops, led by D. Afonso Henriques and Muslim troops coming from various Taifas. Interestingly, the 25th of July was São Tiago’s day, the patron of struggles against the Moors and popularly known as “Mata-Mouros,” which translates to something like the Muslim killer.

This battle was one of the decisive moments in the independence from Portugal because, after this battle, Afonso Henriques called himself “King of Portugal.” In fact, following this battle, Afonso Henriques wrote to Pope Innocent claiming for himself and his descendants the position of King of Portugal, only dependent on Rome, invoking the miracle of Ourique.