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Branches of the olive tree (Binomial name: Olea europaea) underneath the face value in Roman numerals Script: Latin Lettering: XX CENTAVOS M NORTE. Translation: XX Centavos M Norte. Engraver: Marcelino Norte de Almeida

1949 Portugal 20 Centavos

Just because I like Roman Numerals

This is my entry for Day 16, “P” of the Blogging from A-Z April Challenge!
P = Portugal.

2010 - 2024 2024 (larger with A Z on top) Blogging from A - Z April Challenge a-to-zChallenge.com

Reverse

Branches of the olive tree (Binomial name: Olea europaea) underneath the face value in Roman numerals

Script: Latin

Lettering:
XX
CENTAVOS
M NORTE.

Translation:
XX
Centavos
M Norte.

Engraver: Marcelino Norte de Almeida

The reverse of the coin features the denomination above the branches of an olive tree. The 20 of the denomination is written in Roman Numerals – XX. Roman numerals have often been used on coins and medallions, frequently to denote the year and / or the ruler, as on this Pope Leo XIII medallion. Cuba still use Roman Numerals to denote the value on their coins.

Under the denomination are olive branches. The worldwide production of olive oil is dominated by countries surrounding the Mediterranean. Despite its relatively small size, Portugal manages to rank as the world’s 9th largest producer of olive oil at around 3250,000 metric tons annually. It is somewhat overshadowed by its larger neighbour Spain which enjoys the number one position with an annual production of 1.4 million metric tons.

Images of a Galega olive tree and olives from MDPI.com.

So the inclusion of an olive branch is not surprising, or unusual here, and works well in the design of the coin.

There are seven varieties of olives in Portugal with the most prolific being the Galega a small dark brownish-black olive. Galega olive trees are mainly grown for their oil however they also make delicious table olives. The olives have a sweet delicate fruity flavour in contrast to the green rich fleshy Spanish Manzanilla olives or the dark smooth meaty taste of Greek Kalamata olives.

Obverse

The Portuguese shield (five escutcheons forming a cross and a dot within each square) along with the date below Script: Latin Lettering: REPVBLICA·PORTVGVESA 1969 Translation: Portuguese Republic 1969 Engraver: Marcelino Norte de Almeida

The obverse contains the country name, “Repvblica Portvgvesa” (The Republic of Portugal), and the year, surrounding the Portuguese Shield, “five escutcheons forming a cross and a dot within each square”.

The earliest documented Portuguese coat of arms goes back to the first half of the eleventh century, at the time of Sancho I and Sancho II. It was silver, charged by five blue escutcheons disposed in the form of a cross; the points of the side ones pointing toward the centre. Each escutcheon was charged by silver dots, later called “bezants”.

I do like the use of the central feature of the coat of arms. It makes it particularly distinctive. Often putting a full coat of arms on a coin can look busy and make it hard to discern details. A lot of coins of Portugal and its territories use the armillary sphere (with or without Cross of Christ) which is the globe behind the full coat of arms. Some countries have a simpler coat of arms which works well on its own, such as the Ukrainian trident or the Egyptian Eagle, but what other coins are there which take a distinctive part of a country’s coat of arms like that?

Branches of the olive tree (Binomial name: Olea europaea) underneath the face value in Roman numerals Script: Latin Lettering: XX CENTAVOS M NORTE. Translation: XX Centavos M Norte. Engraver: Marcelino Norte de Almeida

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