BANK OF PORTUGAL 20 ESCUDOS BANKNOTE AND MEDAL

In past issues of The E-Sylum there have been discussions about coins represented on banknotes and on other items such as glass. Also stamps on coins, and other combinations were discussed. I recently bought a example of a banknote represented on a medal. For me this was a first. Bank of Portugal 20 escudos

The banknote in question was a Bank of Portugal 20 escudos note of 1915. Apparently this is a scarce and important note from the period of the first Portuguese Republic. That was an unstable period in the history of Portugal. In a period of 16 years (1910-1926) Portugal had 8 presidents,1 provisional government, 38 prime ministers and 1 Junta. The only illustration of this note I could find was this low grade example which is being offered on eBay for $3400. Notice that the note has a watermark of a woman's head inside the upper right circle. I should say that I do not collect paper money.

As for the medal, it is a large format gilded bronze medal (4.7" x 3.1") (15.3oz). To me it is real eye candy. The designer of the medal is Cabral Antunes. He designed many medals, and there are a few dozen currently being offered for sale on eBay from the seller: lusitania_express. This example is not in perfect shape, since some of the gilting has rubbed off of some of the anatomical high points. And, notice how you can see the well rendered watermark in the upper right hand corner even without holding the medal up to the light!

The word OURO (gold) appears as the central theme on the banner presented by the two ladies. This seems to be an attempt by the central bank to assure the true value of the banknote - always a problem when introducing new paper money to the public.

The medal is not particularly scarce as you can see from the serial number which is hand stamped on the bottom edge of my medal (#438 of 500).

The reverse of the medal reveals the occasion in 1977 for which the medal was issued. As best Google and I could translate it reads: first annual national exposition for collectors of paper money (NOTAFILIA). It also had tables at the show for a broader range of collector area interest, such as Filatelica (stamps), Numismatica (coins), Medalhistica (medals), and Filumenismo (match boxes). I resisted smirking at the last one when I remembered how, when I was the bourse chairman for a club show many years ago, I could not sell all 20 tables so I had to allow other hobby tables. In my case this even included a woman selling cabbage patch dolls. I still regret that - sorry to my fellow numismatists back there in Newport, RI.

I wonder if this paper money show survived beyond this "first annual" show?

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