Pattern 10 Escudos of 1916

This pattern 10 Escudos from 1916 was struck as a trial piece to experiment with a new republican design, incorporating the era's symbolic fasces and olive branches on its obverse. That detail alone shows how coinage mirrored Portugal's shift from monarchy to republic, a practical test rather than mere art.

Production occurred at the Lisbon mint, probably in limited quantities given the context of wartime shortages. We know it was made from standard silver alloys, but exact composition details are murky—assay records from the period weren't always reliable. The coin's reverse features a simple value inscription, differing subtly from adopted designs, which suggests it was shelved quickly.

As for myths, I've heard tales of these patterns being smuggled during the war; most are nonsense. They just sat in archives, gathering dust like the rest.