2 1/2 Euros Cante Alentejano

Cante Alentejano — the polyphonic vocal tradition of Portugal's Alentejo region — was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2014, prompting this commemorative issue two years later. The practice is deeply tied to the agricultural communities of the region, historically sung by groups of rural workers during long days in the fields, with no instrumental accompaniment and no written score passed between singers.

Portugal's 2½ Euro denomination was introduced specifically for this UNESCO heritage series, making it a denomination that exists for commemorative purposes alone.