Front: Dona Maria I (1734-1816), Queen of Portugal

Back: Sintra in 1507

Front: Gago Coutinho (1869-1959), Portuguese aviation pioneer

Coutinho, together with Sacadura Cabral (1881-1924), was the first to cross the South Atlantic Ocean by air in 1922 from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro.

Back: Sea biplane

Front: Manuel Maria Barbosa de Bocage (1765-1805), Portuguese poet

Back: Rossio Square in Lisbon around early 19th century

Portugal, located in the western part of the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, emerged as an independent kingdom in the 12th century. Portugal's explorers roamed the world's oceans in the 14th and 15th centuries. By 1494 it had colonized half of the transoceanic world. The monarchy was overthrown and a republic was established in 1910. For a more detailed country profile, see CIA World Factbook on Portugal.

Beginning on January 1, 2002 Euro becomes the official currency for Portugal.