Modern coinage of São Tomé e Príncipe (Saint Thomas and Prince)

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Map of São Tomé e Príncipe.

Location of São Tomé e Príncipe in Africa.

From Wikipedia:

The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe is an island country in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. It consists of two archipelagos around the two main islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, located about 140 kilometres (87 miles) apart and about 250 and 225 kilometres (155 and 140 miles) off the northwestern coast of Gabon, respectively.

The islands were uninhabited until their discovery by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century. Gradually colonised and settled by the Portuguese throughout the 16th century, they collectively served as a vital commercial and trade center for the Atlantic slave trade. The rich volcanic soil and close proximity to the Equator made São Tomé and Príncipe ideal for sugar cultivation, followed later by cash crops such as coffee and cocoa; the lucrative plantation economy was heavily dependent upon imported African slaves. Cycles of social unrest and economic instability throughout the 19th and 20th centuries culminated in peaceful independence in 1975. São Tomé and Príncipe has since remained one of Africa's most stable and democratic countries.

With a population of 200,000, São Tomé and Príncipe is the second-smallest African sovereign state after Seychelles, as well as the smallest Portuguese-speaking country. Its people are predominantly of African and mestiço descent, with most practising Roman Catholicism. The legacy of Portuguese rule is also visible in the country's culture, customs, and music, which fuse European and African influences.

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Coat of arms.

From Wikipedia:

The coat of arms of São Tomé e Príncipe consists of a red-footed falcon on the left and a grey parrot on the right, holding the shield of arms with a palm in its center. The coat of arms is surmounted by a blue star. Above, there is a band that states the name of the country. At the base of the arms is  inscribed the national motto, "Unity, discipline, work".

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The national flag.

From Wikipedia:

The colors and symbols of the national flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The green alludes to the plentiful vegetation of the country, while the yellow stands for the tropical sun and cocoa, a key agricultural crop for the nation. The red evokes the "struggle for independence", as well as equality. The two stars on the yellow band represent the two islands that make up the country.

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THE DEMISE OF THE ESCUDO

The coat of arms, as it appeared on the country's colonial coinage.

The country became independent from Portugal on 12 July 1975.

Its first independent coinage was not issued until 1977.

In the meantime it continued to use its old colonial coinage, denominated in escudos.

See also: Portuguese Empire: Coats of Arms of the 20th Century.

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INTRODUCTION OF THE DOBRA

From Wikipedia:

The dobra is the currency of São Tomé and Príncipe. It is abbreviated Db and is divided into 100 cêntimos. The first dobra (STD) was introduced in 1977, replacing the escudo at par.

In 1977, coins were introduced for 50 cêntimos, 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 dobras. Except for the brass 50 cêntimos and 1 dobra, these coins were struck in copper-nickel. These coins depicted a combination of food produce and local flora and fauna. These coins, although seldom seen in circulation today due to chronic inflation, have never been demonetized, and they can still be used as tender.

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50 centimos, 1977.  Obverse.

The brass 50 centimos coin was the lowest denomination of the series.

It weighed 1.75 grams and had a diameter of 17 mm.


The obverse featured the national coat of arms.

This was the common obverse of the series.

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50 centimos, 1977.  Reverse.

The reverse of the 50 centimos coin featured a fish.

The species of the fish has not been identified.


The first coinage had designs that were all FAO-themed.

F.A.O. = Food and Agricultural Organization (of the United Nations).

The FAO slogan, given in Portuguese, translates as "Let us increase production".

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1 dobra, 1977.  Reverse.

The 1 dobra coin was also made of brass.

It weighed 3 grams and had a diameter of 20 mm.


The reverse design showed a cocoa plant.

Cocoa is an important cash crop for the country.

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2 dobras, 1977.  Obverse.

The 2 dobras coin was made of copper-nickel.

It weighed 2.5 grams and had a diameter of 18.5 mm.


Here you see how the obverse looked on the copper-nickel coins.

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2 dobras, 1977.  Reverse.

The 2 dobras reverse featured a goat and its kid.

This design represented animal husbandry.

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5 dobras, 1977.  Reverse.

The 5 dobras coin was made of copper-nickel.

It weighed 5 grams and had a diameter of 23 mm.

The reverse design featured maize plants.

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10 dobras, 1977.  Reverse.

The 10 dobras coin was made of copper-nickel.

It weighed 6.5 grams and had a diameter of 26 mm.

The reverse design featured chickens, a goose, a turkey, and eggs.

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20 dobras, 1977.  Reverse.

The 20 dobras coin was made of copper-nickel.

It weighed 8 grams and had a diameter of 29 mm.


The reverse design represented horticulture.

It featured coffee plants, a pineapple, papaya, peaches and bananas.

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50 dobras, 1990.  Obverse.

In 1990 a 50 dobras coin was added to the series.

It was a large and heavy copper-nickel coin.

It weighed 11 grams and was 31.5 mm in diameter.

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50 dobras, 1990.  Reverse.

The reverse design featured a snake and a bird.

Their species has not been recorded.

Derek Gorringe of the Royal Mint (UK) produced the design.