5 Réis - Maria II

The Madeira Islands 5 Réis of 1850 represents one of the few occasions a Portuguese colonial possession received a dedicated copper coinage distinct from metropolitan issues. Madeira had long relied on worn and counterstamped Portuguese and foreign copper in everyday trade, and the chronic shortage of small change prompted the local administration to petition Lisbon for an autonomous issue. KM#1 status confirms this as the inaugural type for the islands.

Struck in very limited quantities, survivors in any collectible grade are genuinely scarce.