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The ex-footballer José Augusto invoked the memory of Eusébio, to whom the first coin in the Heroes of Sport series is dedicated
2016 Commemorative Coins presented at Casa da Moeda
March 31, 2016
INCM today presented its 2016 Commemorative Coins plan, revealing the subject matters, the creators, the design and the strategic vision outlined for the commemorative coins to be issued during this year, which will contribute to promoting Portuguese and universal cultural values.
The nine commemorative coins for 2016, designed by nine contemporary artists invited by INCM, like Joana Vasconcelos and André Carrilho, among others, are proof of the creativity and excellence of Portuguese visual art, with an emphasis on different subjects.
From among the new coins, emphasis should be placed on the series featuring major Portuguese sporting figures, starting with a coin dedicated to Eusébio, an athlete personifying the soul and desires of an entire nation, and the series dedicated to threatened species, such as the Iberian Lynx, aimed at promoting natural heritage values among citizens.
Portugal’s participation in the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games (2016) and the 50th anniversary of the 25 de Abril Bridge, will feature on commemorative coins for circulation this year, whereas collectible commemorative coins will be dedicated to modernism, the opening of the Money Museum, Queen Catherine of Braganza (Queens of Europe series), Alentejo Singing - Intangible Cultural Heritage, Eusébio (Heroes of Sport series), the Iberian Lynx (Threatened Animal Species series) and Barcelos figurative art (Portuguese Ethnography series).
Going against an elitist and erudite view of the culture generally associated with coin releases, and taking into account the fact that the history of a people and a country is not only written with statesmen, warriors and writers, INCM aimed to ensure that the subject matters for its 2016 commemorative coins reflected the sort of inclusiveness and cultural diversity found in modern times.
This year, INCM is also presenting a new feature relating to the packaging of commemorative coins: a cork composite designed by architect Miguel Arruda, combining Portuguese identity and technological sophistication.
With the aim of getting younger people involved, a competition was launched in partnership with the Setúbal Local Government, aimed at allowing Secondary School pupils to participate in the creation of a design, based on “The Future”, for a commemorative coin to form part of the 2017 plan.
The aim of this is to encourage potential interest in numismatics and collecting, as a recreational and culturally enriching activity, and to promote an affectionate relationship with the past by projecting it onto the present and future through new generations.
The presentation, which took place at the Casa da Moeda production facilities, was overseen by Chairman of the Board of Directors of INCM, Rui Carp, along with Alcides Gama, the company’s Commercial and Marketing director. A talk was also given by António Filipe Pimentel, director of the National Museum of Ancient Art, based on the subject of “Coin as an object of culture and power”.
One of the most memorable moments of the ceremony was provided by José Augusto, a former glory of Benfica and Portuguese national team member, who remembered his ex-team mate and friend Eusébio da Silva Ferreira as “an example of modesty and sportsmanship deserving of the tribute” of the commemorative coin.
The ceremony was brought to a close with an act by the Male Voice Choir from Aldeia Nova de S. Bento de Serpa, who performed Alentejo Singing, listed by UNESCO in 2014 as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the subject matter of one of this year’s commemorative coins, created by sculpture artist Joăo Duarte.
