5 Escudos 1940 Portugal

This 5 Escudos coin from 1940 was struck in bronze using planchets likely sourced from recycled materials, a pragmatic move amid wartime metal rationing in neutral Portugal.

That bronze composition made it durable for circulation, even as the war disrupted global trade. The obverse features the Portuguese coat of arms, while the reverse shows a fish—probably a sardine, emblematic of the nation's fisheries. No fancy alloys here; it was a straightforward design for everyday use.

Mintage figures for this issue are murky; records from the Lisbon mint weren't always kept meticulously during the era. If you're hunting one, expect wear from heavy use in the 1940s.

Some call it a "war coin," but that's overstating things. It just got the job done.