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| Issuer | Eurozone |
|---|---|
| Year | 1998 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Euro (2002-date) |
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| Obverse description | Promotional specimen vignette reproducing the final series of Banco de Portugal escudo banknotes (500, 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10000 Escudos) arranged across the face. A map of Europe occupies the right portion, with the European Union flag in the upper left. Overprinted SPECIMEN and denomination 10 EURO in guilloche underprint. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | SPECIMEN 1998 SPECIMEN 10 PRESIDENT GENERAL 10 EURO 10 EURO AA 0000000 |
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| Comments |
Produced ahead of the euro's January 1999 launch as an intangible currency, these promotional specimens were distributed to familiarize the public and banking staff with a denomination that would not enter physical circulation until January 2002. The 1998 date places this squarely in the pre-launch awareness campaign coordinated across all eleven initial eurozone member states.
Printed on paper rather than the cotton-linen substrate used for genuine euro banknotes, the composition alone disqualifies any confusion with circulating issues. Collector interest lies primarily in the documentary record — these were made to be handled, discarded, or lost, not preserved.