200 Escudos 1985 Portugal

This 200 Escudos coin from 1985 commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Almeida Garrett, the Portuguese poet and playwright whose works shaped 19th-century literature.

Made of 0.925 silver, it weighs 27 grams and features a bust of Garrett on the obverse, with the Portuguese coat of arms on the reverse. The edge is reeded, a common choice for security in commemoratives of that era. It was struck at the Lisbon Mint, as were most Portuguese coins then.

We don't know the exact mintage figures; records from the 1980s are spotty. What I can say is that these coins circulated briefly before being pulled for collections, given Portugal's shift towards commemorative issues in the late 20th century.

Prices vary by condition, but that's numismatics for you.