Text, Gold coins from Portugal, solar cross

Cross inside a circle and some inscription on a gold coin from Portugal. Gold coins from Portugal Portugal, 1400s - 1500s From the 1400s, Portugese traders sailed down the coast of West Africa, gaining direct access to gold from what they called the 'Guinea coast'. New gold coins were introduced from 1485, on which the king of Portugal named himself as 'King of Guinea' to reflect the country's new trading links. Gold coins, Portugal, King Joao II, 1481-1495, King Joao III, 1521-1557