25 April

Issued year - 2014, April

25 APRIL - 40 Years
Commemorative coin celebrating 40 Years since the Carnation Revolution

Bought today...

The coin depicts a stylized carnation, the date 25 DE ABRIL (25 April), under the shield of Portugal and above 40 ANOS (40 years) legend in two lines. At the top of the coin, it is described the issuing country PORTUGAL. Below, in the center, the year 2014 and on the right the name of the mint INCM and engraver José Teixeira.

The Carnation Revolution was a military coup in Lisbon, Portugal on 25 April 1974 which overthrew the regime of the Estado Novo. The revolution started as a military coup organized by the Movimento das Forças Armadas (Armed Forces Movement, MFA), composed of military officers who opposed the regime, but the movement was soon coupled with an unanticipated and popular campaign of civil resistance. This movement would lead to the fall of the Estado Novo and the withdrawal of Portugal from its African colonies. 
The result of the revolution was the toppling of a dictatorship which had prevailed for almost 50 years and Portugal emerged as a democratic country.

Issuing volume: 500.000

Find the differences

                                     Issuance year - 2013, January

50th anniversary of the signing of the Élysée Treaty

3 more commemorative coins sent by Jose, from Spain. The coin, which was designed by Yves Sampo (Monnaie de Paris), Stefanie Lindner (Berlin State Mint), Alina Hoyer (Berlin) and Sneschana Russewa-Hoyer (Berlin), depicts stylised portraits of the signatories to the Élysée Treaty (Konrad Adenauer, then Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, and Charles de Gaulle, former President of the French Republic) above their respective signatures on either side of the words “50 ANS JAHRE” and the year “2013” in the centre. The words “TRAITÉ DE L’ÉLYSÉE” and “ÉLYSÉE-VERTRAG” are centred along the top and bottom edge, respectively, of the inner part of the coin.

French coin: On the right-hand inner edge below the portrait of Adenauer, the inner part also features the “fleurette” (hallmark of the engraving workshop) and the letters “RF” to denote the issuing country, while the mint mark is located on the coin’s left-hand inner edge below the portrait of de Gaulle.

 Issuing Volume: 10.000.000

 German Coin: On the right-hand inner edge below the portrait of Adenauer, the inner part also features the mint mark   (“A”, “D”, “F”, “G” or “J”, depending on the mint concerned), as well as the letter “D” to denote the issuing country.

Issuing Volume: 11.000.000

  

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Abbé Pierre

Issuance year - 2012, July

The 100th anniversary of the birth of the Abbé Pierre, famous in France as protector of the Poor

One more UNC commemorative coin sent by Jose, from Murcia, Spain, last year, in exchange for several portuguese commemorative coins.
This beautiful french coin depicts a portrait of the Abbé Pierre, with its béret, and the logo of its foundation, with a microtext mentioning `Et les autres?´ which was its favorite motto to recall that one should never forget to help the others. The letters `RF´ do appear for `Republique française´ together with the horn of plenty, mintmark of Monnaie de Paris on the left side, and the `fleurette´, hallmark of the engraving workshop on the right side. The coin´s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

See last and next posts...

Issuing volume: 1.000.000

TYE Coins Quartet

                  Ten Years of Euro Banknotes and Coins - TYE

More  4 TYE 2012 commemorative coins - from Germany, Malta, Cyprus and Luxembourg.

Citizens and residents of the euro area have selected the winning design for this new euro coin issued by all euro area countries to commemorate ten years of euro banknotes and coins in January 2012. Using web-voting, they had five designs to choose from. Those designs had been pre-selected by a professional jury at the close of a design competition that was open to citizens from all euro area countries.

The winning design symbolises the way in which the euro has become a true global player over the past ten years, as well as its importance in day-to-day life, with various aspects being depicted: ordinary people (the family of four), trade (the ship), industry (the factory) and energy (the wind power stations).

The design was created by Helmut Andexlinger, a professional designer at the Austrian Mint.

Issuing volume: 

Cyprus TYE - 1.000.000 

  Germany TYE - 30.000.000 (5 different mintmarks - A, D, F, G and J - 6 million for each)

   Malta TYE - 700.000 

    Luxembourg TYE - 1.400.000.
See last post

4 TYE coins & co.

                                                Issuance year - 2012, May

The 75th anniversary of the Queen Elisabeth Competition

In a swap with Jose, from Murcia, Spain, last July, he sent me these 4 TYE 2012 commemorative coins (from Germany, Malta, Cyprus and luxembourg), and also the original Belgium 2012 "The 75th anniversary of the Queen Elisabeth Competition", in exchange for 5 portuguese coins.

The inner part of the coin depicts the emblem of the Queen Elisabeth Competition superimposed on the effigy of Queen Elisabeth, looking to the left, flanked on the left and right respectively by the mark of the mint master and the mark of the Brussels mint, a helmeted profile of the Archangel Michael. The years 1937-2012 are inscribed above the effigy, and the words ‘QUEEN ELISABETH COMPETITION’ below it. The nationality ‘BE’ is indicated to the right of the portrait of the Queen. 

Issuing volume: 5.000.000

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Luxembourg royal couple!

Issued year - 2009, January
Grand-Duke Henri and Grand-Duchess Charlotte

Here it is. Depicted in the image's foreground is the second commemorative coin that Jose, from Murcia, Spain, sent me (see last post), in exchange for 3 portuguese commemorative coins (Guimarães - European Capital of culture 2012). The coin depicts, on the left-hand side of its inner part, the effigy of His Royal Highness, the Grand-Duke Henri superimposed on the effigy of the Grand-Duchess Charlotte, both looking to the left. 

Once again, thanks...

Issuing volume: 1.400.000

Italian Count of Cavour

Issuance year - 2010, March

200th anniversary of the Count of Cavour’s birth

3 more coins as a result of another swap with Jose, from Múrcia, Spain. Out of the 3 coins that he sent me last April,all depicted in the image, in the foreground the beautiful Italian commemorative coin.

The coin commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour (1810-1861), a key figure in Italian unification and early Italian liberalism, and the founder of the political newspaper "Il Risorgimento". It features a portrait of Cavour based on a painting by Francesco Hayez from 1864. 

See next post

aa Issuing volume: 4.000.000

Guimarães 2012

Issued year - 2012, June

Guimarães - European Capital of Culture 2012

I bought them a few hours ago, along with hundreds of other people trying to do the same, at the Portugal Bank...

The newest portuguese commemorative coin depicts a stylised image of Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, together with his sword and the Castle of Guimarães, which is regarded as the birthplace of Portugal as an independent nation in the 12th century. To the left of the image is the Portuguese shield above the word “PORTUGAL”. To the lower right is the inscription “GUIMARÃES 2012” with the logo of Guimarães 2012 European Capital of Culture. Along the lower edge of the inner part are the mintmark “INCM” and the name of the designer, “JOSÉ DE GUIMARÃES”. 

Issuing volume: 500.000

TYE - Ten Years of Euro banknotes and coins

Depicted in the image is the result of my first swap with Jose, from Murcia, Spain, last February. He sent me these magnificent TYE 2012 commemorative coins (from Estonia, Slovakia, Germany and Greece, and also the 2011 "The Special Olympics World Summer Games - Athens 2011" Greek coin , in exchange for several portuguese commemorative coins.

Citizens and residents of the euro area have selected the winning design for this new euro coin issued by all euro area countries to commemorate ten years of euro banknotes and coins in January 2012. Using web-voting, they had five designs to choose from. Those designs had been pre-selected by a professional jury at the close of a design competition that was open to citizens from all euro area countries.

The winning design symbolises the way in which the euro has become a true global player over the past ten years, as well as its importance in day-to-day life, with various aspects being depicted: ordinary people (the family of four), trade (the ship), industry (the factory) and energy (the wind power stations).

The design was created by Helmut Andexlinger, a professional designer at the Austrian Mint.

Issuing volume: 

Greece 2011 - 1.000.000 

Estonia TYE - 6.000.000 

Germany TYE - 30.000.000 (5 different mintmarks - A, D, F, G and J - 6 million for each)

Slovakia TYE - 1.000.000 

Greece TYE - 1.000.000.

Women´s International Day

Issued year - 2011, March

100th anniversary of International Women’s Day

The other commemorative coin sent by Xav, a French euro coin collector, in our last swap, in exchange for portuguese commemorative coins.

The inner part of the coin commemorating the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, which is celebrated on 8 March, features effigies of Isala Van Diest, the first female Belgian medical doctor, and Marie Popelin, the first female Belgian lawyer above a semicircle formed by their names and the symbols of their professions on either side of the year 2011. 
Thanks.

See last post

Issuing volume: 5.000.000

Battle of Marathon...from Greece, obviously!

Issuance year - 2010, October 2.500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon 

Xav, from France, sent me the Greek coin depicted in the image, along with the Belgium "100th anniversary of International Women's Day" coin, (see next post) and also some  missing currency coins, as a result of our last and only swap, happening last January.

The coin commemorates the 2.500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon. The centre of the coin shows a synthesis of a shield and a runner/warrior representing the struggle for freedom and the noble ideals that the Battle of Marathon stands for. The bird on the shield symbolises the birth of Western civilisation in its present form.

Thanks, Xav.

Issuing volume: 2.500.000

Swan - Finland's national bird

Issued year - 2011, October

200th anniversary of the Bank of Finland

These 3 finnish UNC commemorative coins depicted in the image were sent by Noora from Finland, in exchange for 3 other commemorative coins, in our last in the begining of the year.

This original coin to mark the Bank of Finland’s 200th anniversary, which was designed by the artist Hannu Veijalainen, depicts Finland’s national bird, the swan.
In addition, the inner part of the coin bears the dates “2011”, the year of issue, and “1811”, the year in which Emperor Alexander I of Russia decreed that an “Exchange, Lending and Deposit Office” was to be established in Turku, Finland. It was Finland’s first bank and eventually became the Bank of Finland, which moved to Helsinki in 1819.

Issuing volume: 1.500.000

2 and 1 roll (25)

Issued year - 2011, September

FERNÃO MENDES PINTO - 500th Anniversary of the birth

All the coins depicted in the image were brought today, from the Portugal Bank treasury. Fernão Mendes Pinto left Lisbon in 1537 and embarked on an extraordinary voyage around the coast of Africa, India, Sumatra, Zion, Cambodia, China and Japan, a feat that personified the spirit of the portuguese explorers who set sail on adventures to expand the horizons of the world. His book "Peregrinação" (pilgrimage), published posthumously in 1614, is the story of this exceptional journey through the lands of the Orient, during which Fernão Mendes Pinto was a trader, a chronicler, a Jesuit, a pirate and an ambassador «thirteen times captured and seventeen sold», in a succession of prodigies, marvels and adventures that combined reality and fantasy, dazzling a sixteenth century Europe thirsty for tales and stories about far-flung peoples and places.
The inner part of the coin depicts a sailing ship floating on a sea formed by a series of wave-shaped references to Portugal, Lisbon, his book and some of the destinations of his travels, With the country designation “Portugal” centred beneath them. His name flanked by the dates “1511” and “2011” form a semicircle around the upper edge of the inner part.


At the moment, several coins are available to swap
Issuing volume: 500.000

Historic and military coin

Issued year - 2011, May

100th anniversary of the pupils of the Army College

A portuguese friend, Mr. Joaquim, got me this original coin (and the one from next Post) directly from the Bank of Portugal. Only 100.000 of this magnificent 2,5 € coin have been issued. The Pupilos do Exército (Pupils of the Army) institute was created in May 1911. Throughout its 100 years of existence it has been part of the history and evolution of education in Portugal, in its role as an institute dedicated to the physical and intellectual training of citizens, in accordance with its motto - "Where there's a will there's a way".Its excellence in education, marked by the characteristic strictness, methods and discipline of a military institution, is universally acknowledged and has received several decorations, specifically that of Commander of the Military Order of Christ.The Portuguese Mint and Official Printing Office is joining the celebrations for the centenary of the Pupilos do Exército Institute by minting this commemorative coin bearing the barretina and the sword, symbols of the school and of its links to the Military Academy.


See also next post

Finnish collector, finnish fabulous coins...

Issued year - 2010, October

"Currency Decree of 1860 granting Finland the right to issue banknotes and coins"

Due to our last swap, Noora, from Finland, also sent me these two fabulous and rare Finnish coins. The original design of the coin shows a stylised lion figure from the coat of arms of Finland on the left side and a set of numbers on the right side. Thanks, Noora.

Issuing volume: 1.600.000
See last and the next post

17th member - Estonia

One new collector, Noora from Finland, sent me all the depicted coins in the image, in exchange for a trade. Among others she sent me this magnificent and new 2 € 2011 Estonian currency coin. My first coin of the 17th country of the Euro zone.

Thanks Noora.
The Baltic state of Estonia has become the 17th member of the eurozone, since 1 January 2011. It is the first former Soviet republic to join the single currency club. This beautiful coin features a silhouette map of Estonia together with the word Eesti (Estonia) and twelve stars, symbolic of the European Union, surrounding the map.

See next posts.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Issued year - 2009, January

Finally the last missing EMU coin. This finnish EMU (economic and monetary union) coin and the other depicted in the image were sent by George from Greece, in our last swap at the end of 2010.

In January 2009, the sixteen euro-area countries jointly issued a commemorative euro coin to celebrate ten years of Economic and Monetary Union and the launch of the euro.

See the last post

Issuing volume: 1.400.000

Finish coins....

Issued year - 2005, October

60th anniversary of the United Nations and 50th anniversary of Finland's membership of the UN

These 2 finnish commemorative coins depicted in the image were sent by George from Greece, in our last swap in 2010.

In the centre of this original coin are parts of a jigsaw puzzle showing a dove of peace.

See the next post.

Issuing volume: 2.000.000

Botanical garden

Issuance year - 2010, May200th anniversary of the botanical garden in Ljubljana

2 commemorative and 2 currency coins were what Miguel C. from Madrid, Spain, sent me in our last swap this month. Depicted in the image is probably the nicest coin of 2010, which as a very original design (it features the Rebrincevolistna Hladnikija plant and on the left, under the plant, it's scientific name, Hladnikia Pastinacifolia, is written in an arc).

The Botanical garden of Ljubljana, established in 1810, is our oldest cultural, scientific and educational institution which has been functioning uninterruptedly ever since its foundation. Its plant collection includes more than 4500 species, subspecies and form, one third of which are autochthonous, while two thirds came from various parts of Europe and other continents. The garden has been maintaining exchange contacts with more than 270 botanical gardens world-wide.

See next post to discover what is the coin in the background.

Issuing volume: 1.000.000

Rare and precious...

Issued year - 2010, March

Once again, Alexandra Vieira, a workmate, gave me these two rare and precious portuguese coins.

The "Justo de D. João II", with a face value of 5 euros, is the second of five coins being issued by the Portuguese Mint and Official Printing Office, that initiates, in 2009, the minting of a series of collection coins called «Tesouros Numismáticos Portugueses» (Portuguese Numismatic Treasures) recreating five of the most beautiful and rare examples of Portuguese coins. They are the «Morabitino de D. Sancho II» (last year), «Justo de D. João II» (2010), the «Português de D. Manuell», the «Peça 1722 – Lisboa», of D. João V, and the «Peça 1833 – Degolada», of D. Maria II.

The Justo D. John II King centralizing par excellence, who fought for this, the aristocracy, even beheaded some of its key figures, the king was then the center of everything, as the currency shows us: a king in the center of the coin, seated on the throne, with mantle, crown and sword.

Face Value: 5,00 Euro
Diameter: 30 mm
Weight: 14 g in copper nickel

One for me and the other is not available for swap.

Issuing volume: 150.000