Africa - Coins of Cape Verde Islands

Cape Verde attained independence from Portugal 5^th July 1975. This was commemorated the following year with a silver coin of 250 Escudos (and a gold coin of a different design).

The 250 Escudos is a silver coin, it has a mass of 16.4 grams, a diameter of approximately 33.5mm and the edge is milled. This was not a coin for normal circulation. The obverse has the legends “REPUBLICA DE CABOVERDE” and “250 ESCUDOS” and the date “1976”. In smaller lettering there is also the designer’s name “M. SIMÕES” and the tiny “INCM” logo of the Portuguese Mint (Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda) can be found near to the “6” in the date. The fish shown on the obverse is an Albacore, a type of tuna. The reverse has the legends “INDEPENDENCIA NACIONAL” / “5 JULHO 1975”, also featured are a chain broken by star from which seven lines radiate and map of the Cape Verde Islands.

Further independence commemorative coins have been issued by Cape Verde every 10 years since 1975. The normal issue coins of those types are as follows…..

This type is made from Brass-plated-Steel, it has a mass of 4 grams, a diameter 23.5mm and the edge is milled. The obverse has the legends “REPUBLICA DE CABO VERDE” and “1 ESCUDO CABOVERDIANO 1985” with the state emblem below. The reverse shows the national assembly building with the legends “X ANIVERSARIO DA INDEPENDÊNCIA” above and the legend “PALACIO DA ASSEMBLEIA NACIONAL POPULAR” below.

This type is made from Copper-Nickel, it has a mass of 9 grams, a diameter 28mm and the edge is milled. The obverse has the legends “REPUBLICA DE CABO VERDE” and “10 ESCUDOS CABOVERDIANOS 1985” with the state emblem below. The reverse shows a central large logo with the legend “DECIMO ANIVERSARIO” above and the legends “1975 X 1985” below. The logo includes “Cabo verde” and three other lines of text that, even on a better grade coin, are not quite legible.

This type is made from Copper-Nickel, it has a mass of 13.5 grams, a diameter 30mm and the edge is plain. The obverse shows a changed state emblem (which includes the country name) with the legend “200 ESCUDOS” below. The reverse shows a large central logo with the legend “INDEPENDÊNCIA NACIONAL” to the left and the legend “1975 1995” below.

This type is made from Copper-Nickel, it has a mass of 18 grams, a diameter 30mm and the edge is milled edge. These are quite thick, the approximate thickness being 3.5mm. The obverse shows a state emblem similar to that on the 200 Escudos 1995 above. This state emblem too includes the country name. The “200” of the denomination appears large and stylised with “escudos” below. The other obverse legend can be found inside the main curve of the large “2” and reads “XXX ANIVERSÁRIO DA INDEPENDÊNCIA NACIONAL”. The reverse includes a main legend “30 ANOS DE EDUCAÇÃO PARA O DESENVOLVIMENTO”, dates “1975 2005” and a design of people and mathematical symbols reflecting education which was the other theme for this coin.