Pattern 1 Escudo 1916

The 1916 Pattern 1 Escudo stands out for being one of the few trial strikes from Portugal's early Republican era that incorporated a simplified republican motif, ditching the ornate royal symbols of the past. This coin was likely minted to test new designs amid the chaos of political transition, with its obverse featuring a straightforward liberty cap and the reverse a basic value inscription.

Struck in silver or possibly copper-nickel—records are murky—it never entered circulation, serving only as a prototype. Mintage figures remain unknown, lost perhaps in the administrative shuffle of the 1910 revolution's aftermath. That said, examples that survive are often in pristine condition, owing to their rarity.

Handling these, you notice the edges are sometimes crudely finished, a sign of hurried craftsmanship in uncertain times. As for myths, like the one about it being cursed by exiled monarchists, I've heard it all and it's nonsense.