Portugal

2011

Commemorative coin

500th anniversary of the birth of Fernão Mendes Pinto

Official Journal of the European Union

The inner part of the coin depicts a sailing ship on several wave-shaped inscriptions referring to Portugal, Lisbon, his book and some of his travel destinations. The inscription ‘Portugal’ appears underneath. His name combined with the years 1511 and 2011 appear on top of the inner part. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

The Portuguese explorer and writer Fernão Mendes Pinto (≈1511-1583) travelled the coasts of the Indian Ocean and the Far East from 1537 to 1558. His travelogue (with criticism of Portuguese colonialism) was published posthumously under the title Peregrinação (Pilgrimage). The starting point and destinations of the journey are mentioned in the coin design on the occasion of his 500th birthday under the image of a caravel in the form of wavy bands of writing: "PORTUGAL LISBOA MOÇAMBIQUE ORMUZ DIU GOA INDIA BIRMÂNIA MALACA SONDA PATANE SIÂO CAMBOJA LÉQUIO TANEGASHIMA JAPÂO CHINA NAKAU TARTÁRIA". The word "PEREGRINAÇÃO" (pilgrimage) appears twice in the scrolls.

Edge lettering

Designer