500 Escudos 1996, 150 Years of the Bank of Portugal [Portugal]

Coins-Europe

Reverse
The central part features a wide vertical band with diagonal reeding. Along the band on both sides are two vertical inscriptions in Portuguese: on the left 'BANCO DE', on the right 'PORTUGAL', translating to 'Bank of Portugal'. On the reeded band in the center is depicted the oval emblem of the bank, below it the inscription '1846-1996': 1846 - the year of the bank's foundation, 1996 - the year of issue and the 150th anniversary of the commemorative date. The emblem depicts: a sun rising over the sea, a sailing ship on the waves, a woman seated on the shore pointing her hand towards the bank's name.
Obverse
The central part depicts a wide vertical band with diagonal reeding. Along it on both sides are two vertical inscriptions in Portuguese: on the left 'REPUBLICA', on the right 'PORTUGUESA', translating to 'Portuguese Republic'. At the bottom, to the right of the inscription, along the rim is the abbreviation 'INCM' – the mintmark of the Lisbon Mint. On the reeded band at the top is depicted the lesser coat of arms of Portugal: a heraldic shield on an armillary sphere. On the shield are arranged in the shape of a cross five small escutcheons with bezants, along the edges of the large shield a wide border with seven castles. Below the coat of arms is a two-line inscription '500 / ESC', meaning 'five hundred escudos'.