Portugal 2018: Imprensa Nacional, Ajuda Botanical Garden

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This year Portugal will issue two commemorative €2 coins. One will be dedicated to the Ajuda Botanical Garden (Lisbon) opened in 1768, thus 250 years ago.

The other one commemorates the National Press (Imprensa Nacional) established in the same year. This is the "IN" part of today's INCM so to say, the institution that also makes the Portuguese coins. The mint is much older (13c), but the printing house was established in 1768, and that is what this coin will commemorate. The two merged in 1972.

Christian

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This is what the Imprensa Nacional coin will look like. Text only, but the way the characters are arranged makes the design interesting: They remind of letters in a traditional printing press ...

Christian

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The Imprensa Nacional coin was designed by Eduardo Aires. It will probably be issued in May. And here we have the design of the Ajuda Botanical Garden coin; the designer was João Fazenda. Should come in July. Each commem will have a mintage of 520,000 - 500,000 for circulation, 10,000 BU and 10,000 proof pieces.

Christian