Portugal 1961 50 centavos

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 a fairly common date of a type struck for Portugal 1927-68. It superseded an aluminum-bronze type struck 1924-26 (KM 575) and in turn was replaced by a smaller bronze coin struck 1969-79, after which the denomination was suspended. The escudo was retired in 1999 when Portugal joined the euro. This bust of Liberty was also used on the escudo of 1927-68 and several colonial coins. Portugal, then under the dictatorship of Antonio Salazar, did not waste any time on idle mottos such a "Liberty," "Freedom," or "Justice."

Recorded mintage: 3,324,000.

Specification: 4.5 g, copper-nickel-zinc, 23 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM 577.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• Reis, Lina, Anuário de Numismática, Moedas e notas 2010, 31ª ediçao, Lisbon: Publinummis, Lda, 2009.
• 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.

Link to:

• 1960 50 centavos
• 1960 5 escudos
• 1960 20 escudos
• 1962 50 centavos
• Coins and currency dated 1961
• return to Portugal