The material composition of coins was gold and silver and minted by the Chinese and Portuguese with observe D. João III e S. Tomé has the first currency was circulating Portuguese Timor in 1653. All of it circulated through traditional market that first mentioned in 1225 at the in Chinese history of the most product sandalwoodin Timor Portuguese.

By the century. XIX Timor depended on the Viceroy of India and therefore the currency of Portuguese India the first one there circular, soon followed by the currency issued by the Company of the Netherlands Indies when in 1653, won Coupon ( Kupang) to the Portuguese.

In 1702, establishes a true Portuguese administration in Timor, it stood at Lifau in Oé-Cussi enclave. In 1769, due to the war with the local kinglet, the capital was transferred to Dili. On 24 August 1886 the files of Finance, including Lifau, are lost in a fire.

After the war reappears the problem of currency and it is decided to maintain the Pataca as official currency and, for the first time, begins to coinage for the colony. On 1945-1951 are issued silver coins 50 Avos (½ Pataca) , alpaca 20 cents and Bronze 10 Avos. They are also issued 5 Patacas notes.