1.5 euro - Ingenious
Series: Portugal - Portugal Numismatic Treasure
Continuing the series "Numismatic Treasures," Casa da
Moeda issues in 2022 a new version of the rare and coveted
"Engenhoso" ("ingenious") coin, first minted during
the reign of King Sebastian. Reinterpreted by the sculptor
Rui Vasquez, based on a 1562 copy.
Portugal had been struggling for centuries with the
problem of clipping. This deception could go unnoticed,
as the minting of the coins was not uniform. Thus, in
1553, João Gonçalves conceived a system that allowed
for the melting of gold and the manufacture of perfect
coins.