Portuguese Explorers...

Issued year - 2011, May

Hermenegildo Capelo and Roberto Ivens - European Explorers

Depicted in the image, one more coin that one good portuguese friend, Mr. Joaquim, gave me, last month, directly from the Bank of Portugal. The obverse of this original coin features the 2 famous portuguese explorers, Hermenegildo Capelo and Roberto Ivens, legend "Exploradores Europeus" and the Logotip from Europe serie. The Reverse shows one Africa tree, the facial value, National arms and date. In the last quarter of the 19th century, under the auspices of the Lisbon Geographical Society, Hermenegildo Capelo (1847-1917) and Roberto Ivens (1850-1898) embarked on two of the most notable expeditions in the history of humanity; first from Benguela to the lands of Laca, and then from Angola to Contracosta. Their intention was to explore the African interior, more specifically the territories lying between the provinces of Angola and Mozambique, showing that the Portuguese will to "bring new worlds to the World" did not dry up after the Voyages of Discovery.During these expeditions, Hermenegildo Capelo and Roberto Ivens performed geographical and cartographic surveys and collected meteorological data and many natural history specimens that contributed a lot to increasing scientific knowledge at the time.

See also last Post

Charming "military" coin

Issued year - 2010, November

Bicentenary of Linhas de Torres defensive line

Only 120.000 of this 2,5 € coin have been issued. Once again, Alexandra Vieira, a work mate, gave me this coin, still in 2010. This issue celebrates the bicentenary of the Linhas de Torres defensive line. The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807 and then in 1808 turned on its ally, Spain. The war lasted until the Sixth Coalition defeated Napoleon in 1814. British and Portuguese forces secured Portugal - with last-line fortifications known as Linhas de Torres (the fortress line) - using it as a secure position from which to launch campaigns against the French army. Combined, the regular and irregular allied forces prevented Napoleon's marshals from subduing the rebellious provinces.

2011 - GREAT

Issued year - 2011, January

2Oth Anniversary of the Foundation of the Visegrad Group

One more coin sent by Noora, from Finland, as the result of our last coin swap. This original 2011 Slovakia coin design shows the map of the member states Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, the logo of the Visegrad Group, the inscriptions "Vysehradská Skupina" and "Visegrad Group" as well as the date of the founding "15-02-1991".

The Visegrad Group, also called the Visegrad Four or V4, is an alliance of these 4 central European States, for the purposes of cooperation and furthering their Europe integration.

Issuing volume: 981.000

See last posts

Olé...spanish EMU

Issuance year - 2009, January

24, not the famous TV serie but the number of coins that George from Greece sent me for our last swap. The missing Spanish EMU coin (depicted in the image), the Greek EMU one and several currency missing coins, in exchange for several currency and also commemorative portuguese coins. Now, only Irish, Finnish and the Cypriot EMU coins, are missing.

EU citizens and residents have selected this winning design celebrating 10 years of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and the creation of the euro.

Issuing volume of the Spanish EMU coin: 8.000.000

New year - Saarland State

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1

Issued year - 2009, February

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaSaarland State - Bundesländer

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One more magnificent coin sent by Bernard, from Netherlands, in our last swap, still in 2009. Now, with this coin with mintmark "J"-Hamburg, the 2009 German Bunsdesland series coins (4th of 16) is completed (5 coins with five different mintmarks).

Germany started the commemorative coin series "Die 16 Bundesländer der Bundesrepublik Deutschland" (The 16 States of the Federal Republic of Germany) in 2006. One coin representing a German state will be issued per year between 2006 and 2021 and will coincide with that state's presidency of the 'Bundesrat'.

See last posts and the next one...

Issuing volume of this 2009 Saarland bundesland series: 30.000.000

German EMU

Issued year - 2009, January
It's almost 2010 and only now have I been able to get my first German EMU - with mintmark "G" - Karslruhe, due to a recent swap with Agostoni Roberta, from Italy. In our first swap, she sent me 4 coins, the German EMU and 3 currency coins, all depicted in the image, in exchange by several portuguese coins.

Thanks, Roberta.

The new 2 euro coin, issued last January, celebrates ten years of economic and monetary union (EMU). EU citizens and residents have selected the design by an on-line vote. The design, which symbolizes the euro as the latest step in the long history of European economic integration, was created by Mr G. Stamatopoulos, sculptor at the Minting Department of the Greek Central Bank. The centre of the coin shows a stylised human figure whose left arm is prolonged by the euro symbol.

A = Berlin Mint

D = Munich Mint

F = Stuttgart Mint

G = Karslruhe Mint

J = Hamburg Mint

Issuing volume: 30.000.000

Greek EMU

Issuance year - 2009, January

George, from the country who created the Democracy, Greece, sent me all the coins depicted in the image, as a result of our last swap, happening last October.

The rare and magnificent 2009 commemorative EMU, but also one commemorative 2007 Rome Treaty and several missing currency, all from Greece, in exchange for portuguese coins and one Malta EMU coin.

Thanks, George.

Issuing volume of the Greek EMU: 4.000.000

Crosses, Castles and Mountains

The 8 (x3) slovakian beauties, depicted in the image are the result of my last exchange, this time from a Slovakian collector, Michal. Thanks.

On January 1, 2009, The Slovak Republic, also known as Slovakia, became the newest nation to join the Euro. The 1 and 2 € coins depict a double cross on three hills, as featured in the national emblem of Slovakia. The 10, 20 and 50 centimes coins show Bratislava castle and the national emblem of Slovakia. The 1, 2 and 5 cent coins feature the Tatra Mountains’ peak, Kriváň, a symbol of the sovereignty of the Slovak nation, and the national emblem of Slovakia.

Click here to see the image of the eight fabulous Slovakian coins.

Finnish TOR

Issued year - 2007, March

It had to be like that. Once again Wendy dit it. She sent this magnificent and "rare" finnish Treaty of Rome coin and also 8 more commemorative (all depicted in the image), in exchange of 9 portuguese ones. Now, only Greece, Luxembourg and Slovenia TOR coins, are missing.

13 of the 16 Eurozone members have issued a 2 euro commemorative in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, which laid the foundation of the European Union.

See the last 4 posts and the next one.

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFAAA

AADDDDIiiiiiii Issuing volume: 1.400.000

No longer missing

Issued year - 2006, February
Again, due to a recent swap with the "Dutch" Wendy, I have now all the 5 german mintmarks of the first coin series "The 16 States of the Federal Republic of Germany" - 2006. A total of nine, she sent these 2 missing Schleswig-Holstein Bunsdesland with "A" - Berlin and "J" Hamburg mintmarks. See yesterday post and the next ones.

Issuing volume of this Schleswig-Holstein Bundesland series: 30.000.000

Lucky day...

Issuance year - 2008, July

These 2 coins depicted in the image - French Presidency of the Council of the European Union - came from the small changes found evereday, and it was so easy, probably because the Euro zone's economic situation.

Issuing volume: 20.000.000

For a good reason...

Issued year - 2008

Against indifference - Contra a indiferença

The coin depicted in the image, supports the Portuguese help organisation "The Internacional Medical Assistance - Assistencia Médica Internacional (AMI)". This coin was sold for 5 €, and one euro from each coin sale will go to AMI efforts.

Once again, Alexandra Vieira, a work mate, got me this rare 1,5 € coin, representing one great humanitarian effort to help the International Medical Assistance program, around the world but especially in poorer countries. Thanks, Alexandra.

Issuing volume: 300.000

10 years of Economic and Monetary Union - Malta

Is there any Slovakian collector interested in one or more of these Maltese coins?

Issued year - 2009, January

5 magnificent and shining 2009 EMU coins, depicted in the image, 4 from Malta and 1 from Belgium (see last post), result of my last exchange with David Attard, from Malta.

This original coin shows in the centre a stylised human figure whose left arm is prolonged by the euro symbol.

Thanks again, David.

Issuing volume of the Maltese EMU coin: 700.000

Uau, another Finish commemorative coin

Issued year, 2007, December

This fabulous, weird and wonderful coin, shows nine people rowing a boat with long oars, symbolising collaboration and it features the 90th anniversary of Finland's independence. The year of issue, 2007, and the year of independence, 1917, appear above and below the image, respectively. This one (my second commemorative Finish coin) and all the others depicted in the image were also sent by Jouni Saarni (see the last post). Thanks again, Jouni.

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFAAAAADDDDDDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAIssuing volume: 2.000.000

First Finish commemorative coin

Issued year, 2006, October

All these fabulous coins depicted in the image - 2 commemorative and 7 currency finish coins, result of a recent exchange with Jouni Saarni from Finland. The front coin shows male and female faces separated by a line and it features the 100th anniversary of the Universal and equal suffrage.

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFAAAAADDDDDDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAIssuing volume: 2.500.000

Fado

Issued year - 2008, September

Only 175.000 of this magnificent 2,5 € coin have been issued. This edition is dedicated to the famous music style associated with the Portuguese people and life.
The obverse of this tribute coin features a striking portrait of "The Queen of Fado", Amália Rodrigues (1920-1999). Amália Rodrigues is known for popularizing the Fado worldwide. The coin features her resting on the end of a traditional Fado (Portuguese) guitar. In a semi-circle on the right hand side of the coin are the words "Patrimonio Cultural" (Cultural Patrimony).
The Reverse shows the body of the Fado Guitar, also known as the Portuguese Guitar.

Second German Busdeslander Series

Issued year - 2007, FebruaryGermany started the commemorative coin series "The 16 States of the Federal Republic of Germany" in 2006. One coin representing a German state will be issued per year between 2006 and 2021 and will coincide with that state's presidency of the 'Bundesrat'. The fabulous coin depicted in the image belongs to the second Series - 2007 with mintmark "D" - Munich is going to be placed just next to the "F" - Stuttgart in my collection.

All the coins in the image were sent me by Wendy (see the last two posts).

Issuing volume of this 2007 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Bundesland series: 30.000.000

Commemorative Austrian State Treaty

Issuance year - 2005, May

Another coin sent by Marko from Slovenia in our last swap. This original coin shows a reproduction of the signatures and seals in the Austrian State Treaty, which was signed by the foreign ministers and ambassadors of the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and France, and by Leopold Figl, Foreign Minister of Austria, in May 1955. It also represents my first Austrian commemorative coin.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Issuing volume: 7.000.000

Commemorative Italian Costituzione Europea

Issuance year - 2005

The coin depicted in the image, whose centre features Europa and the bull, with Europa holding a pen and the text of the European Constitution, representing the 1st anniversary of the signing of the European Constitution, also results of an exchange with Marko from Slovenia.

aaIssuing volume: 18.000.000

San Marino

In the last swap, Marko also sent me these 3 San Marino coins, which depict the first tower La Guaita (5 cent), the Statue of Liberty (2 cent) and the third tower Il Montale (1 cent).

Most Serene Republic of San Marino is one of the European microstates and on the basis of an agreement with the European Union, can distribute Euro coins.

Is anyone out there interested in getting me the other five coins?

Click here to see the image of the rare and magnificent eight San Marino euro coins.