By Central Bank of Portugal ……
On October 24, the Central Bank of Portugal (Banco de Portugal) entered into circulation two collection coins: “The Age of Iron and Glass” and “Caretos de Trás-os-Montes“.
The Iron and Glass cupro-nickel coin has a face value of €5 and is part of the ‘Europa‘ series. The Caretos de Trás-os-Montes coin (also in a cupro-nickel alloy) has a face value of € 2.50 and is integrated into the series of commemorative coins concerning Portuguese Ethnography.
Distribution to the public is made through the bank’s credit and treasury institutions.
The ‘Iron and Glass Age’ currency, for which a mintage limit of 60,000 coins with a normal finish has been set, features the following designs and motifs:
On the obverse:
- The symbolic representation of the union of materials with different characteristics, glass and iron, which characterized the geometric aesthetics of engineering and architecture of the 19 century
- In the upper part, the legend “Age of Iron and Glass”
- At the bottom, the face value and the caption “2017”
On the reverse:
- In the center, the drawing of the obverse with the background image of a star and the symbol of the series Europa
- On the left, the caption “Portugal”
- On the right, the national shield
The ‘Caretos de Trás-os-Montes’ coin, also for which a mintage limit of 60,000 coins with a normal finish has been set, features:
On the obverse:
- At the bottom, a group of caretos
- In the center, the national shield
- At the top, the caption “Portugal 2017” and the face value
On the reverse:
- Three peccaries and a donkey, in great detail
- In the upper part, the legend “Caretos de Trás-os-Montes”
- At the bottom, on the left side, the caption “INCM” and the author’s mark
The characteristics of these currencies were approved by Administrative Rule no. 214/2017, published in the Diário da República, 1st series – No. 139, of July 20, and by Ordinance no. 148/2017, published in the Republic, 1st series – No. 83, of April 28, respectively.
The Bank of Portugal sells uncirculated collector coins to the public exclusively in its treasury counters. It does not reserve currency nor send currency by mail.
