100 Escudos 1964 Portugal

This 100 Escudos coin from 1964 was struck to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Prince Henry the Navigator's birth, marking a pivotal figure in Portugal's maritime expansion.

Weighing in at 25 grams of .650 fine silver, it featured a detailed obverse with the national coat of arms and a reverse depicting Henry himself, tools in hand. The design was typical of the era's Estado Novo propaganda, blending history with national pride. Mintage figures are murky; official records from that period are incomplete, possibly due to bureaucratic disarray.

Edge lettering included the motto "In hoc signo vinces," a nod to ancient roots that felt a bit overdone even then. As for its circulation, it didn't see much use beyond collectors' albums.

Proving that not every commemorative ends up as rare as we like to pretend.