Portugal 1972 2-1/2 escudos

from the Mountain Groan Collection

In 1910, Portugal, having ousted her king, dropped the réis and adopted the escudo, divided into 100 centavos. The specimen shown is from a type struck for Portugal 1963-85, after which the denomination was suspended. The handsome caravel obverse design also appears on five escudos (KM 591) and ten escudos (KM 600) of the same period. A few of the early dates are scarce but the remainder, including this one, are common. The escudo was retired in 1999 when Portugal joined the euro.

Recorded mintage: 6,713,000.

Specification: 3.50 g, copper-nickel, 20 mm diameter, reeded edge.

Catalog reference: KM-590.

Sources:

• Alberto Gomes and Francisco Antonio Magro, Moedas Portuguesas e do Território Que Hoje é Portugal: Catálogo das Moedas Cunhadas para o Continentes e Ilhas Adjacentes, para os Territórios do Ultramar e Grão-Mestres Portugueses da Ordem de Malta, 6ª Edição, Lisbon: Associação Numismática de Portugal, 2013.
• Reis, Lina, Anuário de Numismática, Moedas e notas 2010, 31ª ediçao, Lisbon: Publinummis, Lda, 2009.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.

Link to:

• 1971 10 centavos
• 1971 20 centavos
• 1971 2½ escudos
• 1971 10 escudos
• 1971 50 escudos, 125th anniversary of the Bank of Portugal
• 1972 10 centavos
• 1972 20 centavos
• 1972 50 centavos
• 1972 escudo
• 1972 50 escudos, 400th anniversary of 'Os Lusiadas'
• 1973 10 centavos
• 1973 50 centavos
• 1973 escudo
• 1980 2½ escudos
• Coins and currency dated 1972