Third Portuguese Republic (1974 - 2001)

The Carnation Revolution and the democratic transition

On 25 April 1974, the Carnation Revolution, led by the Armed Forces Movement (MFA), peacefully overthrew the Estado Novo dictatorship. It opened the way to pluralist democracy, the decolonisation of Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe, and the Third Portuguese Republic.

Democratic renewal of coinage

The end of the authoritarian regime and the loss of the colonial empire prompted a radical revision of coin imagery. Nationalist and imperial symbols were gradually replaced by modern, simple geometric designs centred on nautical science (astrolabe, compass and compass rose), local flora and fauna and leading figures of Portuguese culture.

Strong inflation in the 1970s and 1980s stripped centavo fractions of purchasing power, and they were rapidly withdrawn. Circulation focused on higher denominations in nickel brass and cupronickel: 1, 2$50, 5, 20, 25 and 50 escudos.

Bimetallic coinage and the transition from escudo to euro

In 1989 and 1991, Lisbon’s Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda successfully introduced two bimetallic coins: 100 escudos, with a cupronickel ring and aluminium-bronze centre, and 200 escudos, with an aluminium-bronze ring and cupronickel centre, celebrating Atlantic navigation and the Columbian explorations.

Portugal’s accession to the European Economic Community in 1986 and ratification of the Maastricht Treaty qualified it for the first wave of monetary union. On 1 January 1999, the escudo’s exchange rate was irrevocably fixed at 1 EUR = 200.482 PTE. Euro coins and banknotes entered circulation on 1 January 2002; on 28 February 2002, the escudo ceased to be legal tender after more than 90 years.

Click the images to see detailed entries and coin specifications.

Third Republic

250 Escudos25 Escudos100 Escudos25 Escudos
SilverCupronickelSilverCupronickel
19761977–197819771980–1986
Third RepublicThird RepublicThird RepublicThird Republic
Portugal — 250 Escudos — Silver — 1976 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 25 Escudos — Cupronickel — 1977–1978 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 100 Escudos — Silver — 1977 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 25 Escudos — Cupronickel — 1980–1986 — Third Republic — obverse
Portugal — 250 Escudos — Silver — 1976 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 25 Escudos — Cupronickel — 1977–1978 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 100 Escudos — Silver — 1977 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 25 Escudos — Cupronickel — 1980–1986 — Third Republic — reverse
Types and links in this group
1 Escudo500 Escudos750 Escudos1.000 Escudos
Nickel brassSilverSilverSilver
1981–1986198319831983
Third RepublicThird RepublicThird RepublicThird Republic
Portugal — 1 Escudo — Nickel brass — 1981–1986 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 500 Escudos — Silver — 1983 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 750 Escudos — Silver — 1983 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1983 — Third Republic — obverse
Portugal — 1 Escudo — Nickel brass — 1981–1986 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 500 Escudos — Silver — 1983 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 750 Escudos — Silver — 1983 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1983 — Third Republic — reverse
Types and links in this group
1.000 Escudos1 Escudo5 Escudos10 Escudos
SilverNickel brassNickel brassNickel brass
19831986–20001986–20001986–2000
Third RepublicThird RepublicThird RepublicThird Republic
Portugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1983 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 1 Escudo — Nickel brass — 1986–2000 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 5 Escudos — Nickel brass — 1986–2000 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 10 Escudos — Nickel brass — 1986–2000 — Third Republic — obverse
Portugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1983 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 1 Escudo — Nickel brass — 1986–2000 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 5 Escudos — Nickel brass — 1986–2000 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 10 Escudos — Nickel brass — 1986–2000 — Third Republic — reverse
Types and links in this group
20 Escudos50 Escudos100 Escudos200 Escudos
CupronickelCupronickelBimetallicBimetallic
1986–20001986–20001989–20001991–2001
Third RepublicThird RepublicThird RepublicThird Republic
Portugal — 20 Escudos — Cupronickel — 1986–2000 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 50 Escudos — Cupronickel — 1986–2000 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 100 Escudos — Bimetallic — 1989–2000 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 200 Escudos — Bimetallic — 1991–2001 — Third Republic — obverse
Portugal — 20 Escudos — Cupronickel — 1986–2000 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 50 Escudos — Cupronickel — 1986–2000 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 100 Escudos — Bimetallic — 1989–2000 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 200 Escudos — Bimetallic — 1991–2001 — Third Republic — reverse
Types and links in this group
1.000 Escudos1.000 Escudos1.000 Escudos500 Escudos
SilverSilverSilverSilver
1992199419941995
Third RepublicThird RepublicThird RepublicThird Republic
Portugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1992 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1994 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1994 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 500 Escudos — Silver — 1995 — Third Republic — obverse
Portugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1992 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1994 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1994 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 500 Escudos — Silver — 1995 — Third Republic — reverse
Types and links in this group
1.000 Escudos500 Escudos1.000 Escudos1.000 Escudos
SilverSilverSilverSilver
1995199619961996
Third RepublicThird RepublicThird RepublicThird Republic
Portugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1995 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 500 Escudos — Silver — 1996 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1996 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1996 — Third Republic — obverse
Portugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1995 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 500 Escudos — Silver — 1996 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1996 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1996 — Third Republic — reverse
Types and links in this group
500 Escudos1.000 Escudos1.000 Escudos1.000 Escudos
SilverSilverSilverSilver
1997199719971997
Third RepublicThird RepublicThird RepublicThird Republic
Portugal — 500 Escudos — Silver — 1997 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1997 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1997 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1997 — Third Republic — obverse
Portugal — 500 Escudos — Silver — 1997 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1997 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1997 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1997 — Third Republic — reverse
Types and links in this group
500 Escudos1.000 Escudos1.000 Escudos1.000 Escudos
SilverSilverSilverSilver
1998199819981998
Third RepublicThird RepublicThird RepublicThird Republic
Portugal — 500 Escudos — Silver — 1998 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1998 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1998 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1998 — Third Republic — obverse
Portugal — 500 Escudos — Silver — 1998 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1998 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1998 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1998 — Third Republic — reverse
Types and links in this group
1.000 Escudos500 Escudos1.000 Escudos1.000 Escudos
SilverSilverSilverSilver
1998199919991999
Third RepublicThird RepublicThird RepublicThird Republic
Portugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1998 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 500 Escudos — Silver — 1999 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1999 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1999 — Third Republic — obverse
Portugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1998 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 500 Escudos — Silver — 1999 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1999 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 1999 — Third Republic — reverse
Types and links in this group
500 Escudos1.000 Escudos1.000 Escudos1.000 Escudos
SilverSilverSilverSilver
2000200020002000
Third RepublicThird RepublicThird RepublicThird Republic
Portugal — 500 Escudos — Silver — 2000 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 2000 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 2000 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 2000 — Third Republic — obverse
Portugal — 500 Escudos — Silver — 2000 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 2000 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 2000 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 2000 — Third Republic — reverse
Types and links in this group
500 Escudos1.000 Escudos
SilverSilver
20012001
Third RepublicThird Republic
Portugal — 500 Escudos — Silver — 2001 — Third Republic — obversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 2001 — Third Republic — obverse
Portugal — 500 Escudos — Silver — 2001 — Third Republic — reversePortugal — 1.000 Escudos — Silver — 2001 — Third Republic — reverse
Types and links in this group

The catalogue includes regular issues and commemoratives intended for circulation, as documented by the sources. Patterns and collector-only issues are excluded. Comparison of earlier series and countermarks is still in progress.

Third Republic silver commemoratives are distinguished from proof versions reserved for collector sets. Official sources: 1976 issues and 1997 oceanographic issues.