In 1910, a revolution deposed the Portuguese monarchy but chaos and considerable economic problems continued. A military coup d’état in 1926 led to the establishment of a right-wing dictatorship by António de Oliveira Salazar. In 1974, a bloodless left-wing military coup known as the Carnation Revolution led the way for a modern democracy as well as the independence of the last colonies in Africa. Portugal joined the European Economic Community (now European Union) in 1986 and started a process of modernization. The Portuguese numismatics followed these political movements with three waves of Escudo coins: 1910-1926; 1926-1986; 1986-2001. Portugal was one of the founding countries of the Euro.
The Escudo was removed from circulation in 2002.
The values indicated below are a fair quotation to be used as reference for coin collectors. They do not represent any selling price.
PROOF - Proof coins are the highest quality commemorative coins. They are specially struck for collectors with highly polished dies and planchets, and feature frosted design elements and mirrored fields.
BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) - BU coins are of a higher standard than circulating coins. The dies are polished and finished by hand. They offer a good level of design detail.
VF (Very Fine) - A circulated coin where all the fine detail is present, but not the 'minute' detail and signs of wear and tear to its higher points make it obvious that it has been in circulation but only minimally.
