Coins of 2 euros commemorative of the “600 Years of the Discovery of Madeira and Porto Santo” by the Portuguese plastic artist Júlio Pomar will be issued, minted and put into circulation this year by the National Press / Casa da Moeda.
Coins of 2 euros commemorative of the “600 Years of the Discovery of Madeira and Porto Santo” by the Portuguese plastic artist Júlio Pomar will be issued, minted and put into circulation this year by the National Press / Casa da Moeda.
The issue, coinage and circulation of this currency is part of the program of the “600 Years of Discovery of Madeira and Porto Santo” organized by the Regional Government through the Regional Secretariat for Tourism and Culture which, by 2019, has scheduled more than 30 initiatives alluding to the event.
According to Directive 16/2019, the National Press-Casa da Moeda, SA (INCM) is authorized, within the volume of coins issued by the European Central Bank, to coin two currency commemorative issues in 2019 current of 2.00 euros, one of them dedicated to the “600 Years“.
“During the year 2019, the 600th anniversary of the Discovery of the Islands of Madeira and Porto Santo will be celebrated in the first expeditions of the Portuguese navigators, an important landmark in the history of Portugal, given the discovery of uninhabited territories, which justifies the commemorative issue of a currency of 2.00 (euro), “says the Ordinance.
The visual characteristics of the commemorative issue of the currencies of 2.00 euros are as follows:
On the common side of both currencies is the European design contained in the European Commission Communication No 2006 / C225 / 05, published in the Official Journal of the European Union of 19 September 2006.
In the national side of the coin called “600 years of the Discovery of Madeira and Porto Santo“, occupying the whole centre field, the representation of the silhouette of the islands, where the “portulanos” course lines of the maps of the XIII and XV centuries stand out.
To enclose the image with the captions «600 years of the Discovery of Madeira and Porto Santo», «Portugal 2019», «INCM» and the author’s indication, involving the whole drawing are the 12 stars, arranged in circular form, which represent the European Union.
For the ‘600 Years of Discovery of Madeira and Porto Santo’ currency, the limit is EUR 1 040 000 (euro) and INCM within this limit is allowed to mint up to 10 000 coins with a special finish of the type ‘Unbroken bright (BNC) and up to 10 000 coins with special finishes such as ‘Proofs’.
The commemorative coin of the “600 Years” is considered, according to the Regional Government, one of the last works of the plastic artist / painter Júlio Pomar [died May 22, 2018, at age 92], neorealist and third generation of painters Portuguese modernists, with remarkable works such as “Trolha Lunch” and “Gadanheiro“.
Júlio Pomar was also notable in drawing, engraving, sculpture, assemblage, illustration, ceramics and tapestry, wall decoration in tile and stage design for theatre.
“We want this celebration to be shared among all, and later remembered not only in its physical work but above all in the affirmation of our cultural identity and in the discovery that it has been able to promote, at the level of our talents and our creative and artistic capacity, “said the regional secretary of Tourism and Culture, Paula Cabaço, in presenting the program of the celebrations for this year.
The program involves artistic orders (plastic arts, theatre and music); production/creation of allusive elements [currency]; congresses and lectures; shows, festivals and concerts; exhibitions; cultural and creative industry; ludic-educational projects and editorial projects and of recovery and conservation of the built heritage.
