Lot #680: Mozambique 1973 Five Escudos - "Overseas Province" of Portugal - Armillary Sphere - Cross of the Order of Christ

Obverse: Features the Coat of Arms of Mozambique under the Portuguese administration. The Shield contains symbols representing the territory, including a stylized bundle of arrows (symbolizing the colony). The shield is placed over an armillary sphere, a classic Portuguese maritime tool representing their era of global exploration. Lettering: MOÇAMBIQUE at the top and the value 500 at the bottom. The sign in the middle is actually the Cifrão, the symbol used for the Escudo. This coin displays the "Cifrão" Symbol (), representing the value as 500. While the in North America is associated with the Dollar, it is originally the Cifrão. In the Escudo system, the symbol acts as a decimal point, separating the Escudos from the Centavos. Reverse: Features the Coat of Arms of Portugal. The central design is the Cross of the Order of Christ, which was the symbol of the military order that sponsored many early Portuguese voyages. Lettering: REPÚBLICA PORTUGUESA and the date 1973. This Mozambique 1973 Five Escudos coin is a piece of colonial history, minted just two years before Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975. During this period, Mozambique was considered an "Overseas Province" of Portugal, and its coinage heavily reflected Portuguese imperial symbols. Dimensions: Copper-Nickel 24.26 mm. 7 g. Pickup category timeslot {A}