2 Escudos 1942 Portugal

This 2 Escudos coin from 1942 was struck in aluminum to cope with Portugal's wartime material shortages, marking a shift from traditional bronze alloys.

The obverse features the Portuguese coat of arms, encircled by the national motto, while the reverse lists the denomination and date. Production took place at the Lisbon mint, though exact numbers remain murky—records from that era are spotty at best. What I can say for sure is that these coins were lightweight, designed for everyday use in a neutral country hedging its bets amid global chaos.

Aluminum planchets were recycled from whatever scraps were available, including old pots and pans, turning household items into currency. That's resourcefulness for you; it's almost as if the government was cooking up money.

No one knows for certain how many survived the years, given the coin's low intrinsic value and the wear of daily circulation.