Portugal KM 537, 200 reis 1898

[Figleaf]

This coin is propaganda. All coins are propaganda, but this one especially so. The subject, Carlos Fernando Luís Maria Victor Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Xavier Francisco de Assis José Simão de Bragança Sabóia Bourbon e Saxe-Coburgo-Gota (a.k.a. Carlos I) is pictured here in happy unison with Marie Louise Hélène of Orleans, but he was a philanderer. His chest is laden with decorations, but he is best known for a disgraceful treaty repugnant to the population, foisted upon him by his longtime British allies. The 23.9 mm coin is silver, but its denomination, 200 reis, speaks of inflation. The reverse is a celebration of a rich history with daring long-distance voyages in the name of Christianity, but religious parties were battling liberals for power and Portugal was sinking into chaos, confusion, isolation and poverty.

Peter

[translateltd]

Interesting string of names there - what was the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha connection?  A distant cousin of Prince Albert?

[bart]

Interesting string of names there - what was the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha connection?  A distant cousin of Prince Albert?

Yes, he was:

Here's the family tree:
beginning with duke Ernst I, duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. His son Albert married queen Victoria, putting the Saxe-Coburgs on the British throne.
Ernst's younger brother Leopold already attempted to put the dynasty on the British throne, as he married Charlotte, princess of Wales. Unfortunately she died before she could ascend the throne. Later Leopold accepted the Belgian throne.
Another brother of Ernst was Ferdinand. This Ferdinand's son, also named Ferdinand, married Maria II, queen of Portugal, and became co-king Ferdinand II of Portugal. Carlos I was Ferdinand II's grandson.
Ferdinand II's brother, August, was the father of Ferdinand I, king of Bulgaria. The last king of Bulgaria, Simeon II, is still a member of the Saxe-Coburg dynasty. After a long exile, he returned to his country and became prime-minister of Bulgaria 2001-2005.

Bart