250 Escudos Carnation Revolution

The Carnation Revolution of April 25, 1974 ended 48 years of authoritarian rule under the Estado Novo regime, and this commemorative — struck two years after the coup — marks the second anniversary of the bloodless military uprising that took its name from the flowers civilians placed in soldiers' rifle barrels. Portugal was still navigating the turbulent political aftermath when this coin was issued, having cycled through six provisional governments between 1974 and 1976 alone.

The .680 fineness is notably lower than the .835 silver standard used in earlier Portuguese commemoratives, reflecting currency pressures during the post-revolutionary economic instability.