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Ceitil - Afonso V Group 5 - Columnar towers, Sea of continuous waves cutting the legend, Shield of 4th type or variants
| Issuer | Portugal |
|---|---|
| Year | 1457-1459 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | 24 mm |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
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| Reverse description | The Portuguese royal coat of arms of the fourth type, centrally positioned within a circular legend in uncial Latin characters. The shield displays the traditional escutcheon of Portugal quartered with castles and quinas (five shields bearing bezants), rendered in hammered relief with characteristic irregularity typical of hand-struck medieval coinage. The border separating the central device from the surrounding legend is composed of a beaded or rope-like inner circle. The overall composition reflects the heraldic conventions of the reign of Afonso V, with minor die-to-die variations distinguishing the sub-types catalogued by Magro. |
| Reverse script | Latin (uncial) |
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| Additional information |
The ceitil takes its name from Ceuta, the North African enclave seized by Portugal in 1415 — the coin was specifically valued at the cost of a day's ration in the garrison there. Afonso V's aggressive North African campaigning through the 1450s required a reliable low-denomination copper issue that could function across both mainland Portugal and the occupied presidios. Group 5 is distinguished in Magro's classification by the continuous wave pattern interrupting the legend, a die characteristic that helps separate a surprisingly tangled series where workshop variation was endemic and attribution has historically been contentious.