Portuguese Colony (1894-?) Coin List
The Portuguese Colony of Macao underwent important economic and monetary changes starting in 1894. This period marked the beginning of a new era in the numismatic history of the region, reflecting the complex relations between Portugal and China in the colonial context.
Monetary system and coinage
In 1894, Macau introduced a new monetary system based on the pataca, which was divided into 100 avos. This coin, inspired by the Mexican peso, became the official monetary unit of the colony. The first patacas were minted in silver and featured designs that combined Portuguese and Chinese elements, symbolizing the unique nature of Macau as a Portuguese enclave in Chinese territory. The most common coins were 5, 10 and 20 avos, minted in cupro-nickel, while higher denominations, such as the pataca and its multiples, were minted in silver. These pieces often featured the Portuguese coat of arms on the obverse and Chinese characters on the reverse, reflecting the cultural duality of the region.
Economic impact and circulation
The introduction of the pataca had a profound impact on the local economy of Macau. It facilitated trade with both neighboring Hong Kong and inland China, cementing Macau's position as an important commercial center. However, currency circulation in Macau during this period was complex, with multiple currencies coexisting in the local market. In addition to the pataca, it was common to find Hong Kong dollars, Mexican pesos and even Chinese coins in circulation. This monetary diversity reflected the cosmopolitan nature of Macau and its role as a meeting point between East and West. As the 20th century progressed, the Portuguese colonial government made efforts to standardize and control monetary circulation, issuing new series of coins and banknotes that reinforced the colony's Portuguese identity while adapting to regional economic realities.
The most valuable and popular coins
The most valuable Portuguese Colony (1894-?) coins and sought after by collectors according to Foronum statistics are the following:
The valuation of these coins list has been achieved through a meticulous algorithm that considers the current market, taking into account aspects such as material, weight, diameter, edge, year of mintage, mint of manufacture and the number of coins produced. Coins with limited mintages and in good condition are usually among the most valuable.
Old coins of Macao
To facilitate their classification, we have decided to organise the coins according to their historical period, you can consult the coins by historical numismatic categories of Macao.
Portuguese Colony 1894-?Coin Catalog
Macao | 5 avos
Macao | 5 avos
Macao | 10 avos
Macao | 10 avos
Macao | 50 avos
Macao | 1 pataca
Macao | 5 patacas
Macao | 5 patacas
Macao | 1 pataca
Macao | 1 pataca
Macao | 50 avos
Macao | 20 patacas (Macau-Taipa Bridge)
Macao | 50 avos
Macao | 100 patacas (25th Anniversary of the Grand Prix)
Macao | 100 patacas (25th Anniversary of the Grand Prix)
Macao | 500 patacas (25th Anniversary of the Grand Prix)
Macao | 500 patacas (25th Anniversary of the Grand Prix)
Macao | 100 patacas (Year of the Goat)
Macao | 500 patacas (Year of the Goat)
Macao | 100 patacas (Year of the Monkey)
Macao | 1.000 patacas (Year of the Monkey)
Macao | 100 patacas (Year of the Rooster)
Macao | 1.000 patacas (Year of the Rooster)
Macao | 10 avos
Macao | 20 avos
Other resources to find coins and banknotes of Macao
Can't find what you are looking for? Take a look at our coin finder and speed up your searches within the collections of all collectors, or if you prefer you can search directly in the list of coin collectors and access their profile to see their collections.