Portugal will have a new commemorative coin, with a face value of 7.5 euros, in honor of the 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation in history. Named “Conclusion 1522”, the play marks the end of the expedition conceived by the Portuguese Fernão de Magalhães, who died before the end of the voyage.
Made of silver alloy, the coin is aimed at collectors and has a circulation of 50,000 copies. It will go into circulation on May 5.
The sides of the coin show the armillary globe – an astronomical instrument that helped the navigators – and the ship Victoria, the only boat that managed to complete the expedition.
The edition is part of a commemorative series that marks the main moments of the expedition, which, although commanded by a Portuguese, was carried out in the service of the Spanish crown.
According to the Bank of Portugal, the special edition is only valid for payments in Portuguese territory. The face value of 7.5 euros does not exist on the conventional line of the common European currency.
In recent months, Banco de Portugal has announced several other commemorative coins. In February, a special edition came into circulation in honor of the centenary of José Saramago.
THE EXPEDITION
Initiated in September 1519 by Fernão de Magalhães, the expedition left Spain with 5 ships and about 230 crew. The voyage faced a number of problems, including illness, bad weather and even a mutiny in the crew.
One of the main objectives was to establish a new sea route to the Indies. In November 1520, after several attempts, the group finally found the link between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
The expedition leader, however, was unable to return to Europe. Magellan was killed in a battle with a tribal leader in the Philippines in April 1521.
The enterprise was then commanded by Juan Sebastián Elcano, who concluded the expedition in September 1522, with only one ship and 18 survivors.
