200 Escudos of Portugal 1991 CuNi UNC - Navigation to the West

Portuguese westward navigation, while less central than their eastern explorations, played a key role in the Age of Discovery during the 15th century. The Portuguese discovered and colonized several Atlantic islands, such as the Azores, Madeira, and the Cape Verde Islands, which served as strategic bases for further maritime exploration.

The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 divided the world into two spheres of influence between Spain and Portugal, paving the way for Portuguese control over Brazil, discovered by Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500. While the Portuguese primarily focused on reaching the East, their westward ventures contributed to the rivalry with Spain and Europe's expansion across the Atlantic.