The real (plural ''réis'') was the currency of

Portuguese Angola Portuguese Angola refers to Angola during the historic period when it was a territory under Portuguese rule in southwestern Africa. In the same context, it was known until 1951 as Portuguese West Africa (officially the State of West Africa). I ...

until 1914. It was equal to the

Portuguese real The ''real'' (, meaning "royal", plural: ''réis'' or rchaic''reais'') was the unit of currency of Portugal and the Portuguese Empire from around 1430 until 1911. It replaced the '' dinheiro'' at the rate of 1 real = 840 dinheiros and was itself ...

. No subdivisions existed, but some coins were issued denominated in ''macutas'', worth 50 réis. The real was replaced by the

escudo The escudo ( Portuguese: 'shield') is a unit of currency historically used in Portugal and its colonies in South America, Asia, and Africa. It was originally worth 16 silver . The Cape Verdean escudo and the former Portuguese escudo (PTE), eac ...

in 1914.

Coins

In the mid-eighteenth century, copper coins were issued in denominations of 10, 20 and 40 réis, ¼, ½ and 1 macuta, along with silver 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 macutas. From 1814, only copper ¼, ½, 1 and 2 macutas were issued. However, after 1814, some copper coins were counterstamped with the

coat of arms of Portugal The coat of arms of Portugal is the main heraldic insignia of Portugal. The present model was officially adopted on 30 June 1911, along with the present model of the Flag of Portugal. It is based on the coat of arms used by the Portuguese Kingdo ...

to double their value. 10, 20 and 40 réis and ¼, ½, 1 and 2 macuta coins were counterstamped to produce 20, 40 and 80 réis and ½, 1, 2 and 4 macuta coins. The last coins were issued in 1860.

Banknotes

In 1861, the ''Junta da Fazenda Publica da Provincia d'Angola'' introduced notes in denominations of 1000, 2000, 5000 and 20,000 réis. 10,000 real notes followed in 1877, with notes issued until 1884. The ''

Banco Nacional Ultramarino Banco Nacional Ultramarino (, BNU; ; en, National Overseas Bank) is a Macau banking and financial services corporation. It was a Portuguese bank with operations throughout the world, especially in Portugal's former overseas provinces. It ceased e ...

'' began issuing notes in 1865, with notes for 5000, 10,000 and 20,000 réis. In 1876, 1000 and 2500 real notes were added, followed by 2000 réis in 1877. In 1892, a shortage of small change lead to an emergency issue of 100, 200 and 500 real notes which circulated until 1905. 50,000 real notes were introduced in 1909.

References

* * {{refend Currencies of Angola Currencies of Portugal Modern obsolete currencies Economic history of Portugal 1914 disestablishments Portuguese Angola