KM 17 Modern Portuguese 10 Reis Coin Minted for the Archipelago of Azores, Depicting Ornate Coat of Arms and Wreath with Floral Motif

This coin was minted for the Azores by the Kingdom of Portugal under King Carlos I. The Azores is a remote volcanic archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean consisting of nine major islands. The Islands extend for more than 373 miles and are situated 950 mi. from the shores of Portugal. The Azores are actually the peaks of some of the tallest mountains in the world.

The previously uninhabited islands were discovered in the 14th century and were first colonized around 1439. The settlers came primarily from the Portuguese Provinces of Algarve and Altentejo. These remote islands were settled sporadically over hundreds of years thus their culture, dialect, cuisine and traditions vary considerably from island to island.

In 1976, the Azores became the Autonomous Region of the Azores (Região Autónoma dos Açores) and now possesses its own Political and Administrative Statutes and has its own Government. The Azores has a population of roughly 250,000 and its main industries are farming, cattle, fishing and tourism.