200 Escudos Columbus and Portugal, silver

This piece belongs to the Portuguese Discoveries commemorative program, one of the most ambitious numismatic series of the late twentieth century, timed to the approaching quincentenary of Columbus's 1492 voyage. Portugal's claim on Columbus has always been contested — Genoese by birth, he lived in Lisbon for years, married a Portuguese noblewoman, and almost certainly presented his Atlantic plan to João II before taking it to the Spanish crown after rejection.

The KM#658a designation distinguishes the sterling silver striking from the base-metal currency issue, both released the same year.