Catalog
250 Escudos Independence
| Issuer | Cape Verde |
|---|---|
| Year | 1976 |
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| Weight | 16.4 g |
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| Obverse description | Two fish rendered in fine relief dominate the central field, depicted in dynamic overlapping composition against a plain background. The denomination '250' appears prominently to the right, with 'ESCUDOS' inscribed beneath it. The circular legend 'REPUBLICA DE CABOVERDE' runs along the outer rim, with the date '1976' positioned at the lower right. The engraver's signature 'M. SIMOES' is inscribed at the lower left, near the rim. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse commemorates Cape Verde's national independence, with the date '5 JULHO 1975' displayed prominently in the central field, referencing the date of independence. A radiating sunburst of diagonal lines emanates from the lower portion of the field, symbolising liberation and a new dawn. A broken chain is depicted along the lower rim, divided at the base, evoking the breaking of colonial bonds. The circular legend 'INDEPENDENCIA NACIONAL' arcs around the upper rim in bold raised lettering. |
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| Additional information |
Cape Verde declared independence from Portugal on July 5, 1975, after over five centuries of colonial rule and a liberation struggle led by the PAIGC — the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde. This 1976 issue commemorates that first anniversary, struck just as the new government was establishing its own monetary institutions and replacing the Portuguese escudo with a national currency of the same name.
The .900 silver specification mirrors Portuguese commemorative coinage conventions — a deliberate or ironic continuity, depending on your reading of the transition.