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

Portuguese Mozambique Portuguese Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique) or Portuguese East Africa (''África Oriental Portuguesa'') were the common terms by which Mozambique was designated during the period in which it was a Portuguese Empire, Portuguese colony. Portuguese Moz ...

until 1914. It was equivalent to and circulated alongside 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 ...

History

Coins specific for Mozambique were issued until 1853, whilst the first banknotes appeared in 1877. 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 ...

at a rate of 1 escudo = 1000 réis.

Coins

Copper coins were issued specifically for Mozambique in denominations of 1, 2, 20, 40 and 80 réis. Between 1835 and 1851, crude, rectangular coins were issued. There were silver ''onca'', worth 2880 réis, and gold 1¼ and 2½ ''meticais''. Various foreign coins were countermarked in 1889 for use in Mozambique.

Banknotes

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 ...

issued notes for 5000 and 20,000 réis in 1877. Additional denominations of 1000, 2000, 2500 and 10,000 réis were issued in 1878, followed by 50,000 réis in 1897. In 1909, notes were also issued denominated in ''libra esterlina'' (

pound sterling Sterling (abbreviation: stg; Other spelling styles, such as STG and Stg, are also seen. ISO code: GBP) is the currency of the United Kingdom and nine of its associated territories. The pound ( sign: £) is the main unit of sterling, and t ...

). Modern obsolete currencies Currencies of Portugal Economic history of Portugal 1914 disestablishments in Portuguese Mozambique History of Mozambique Portuguese Mozambique Currencies of Mozambique {{Mozambique-stub