Portugal 10 escudos 1987 - Council of Europe · Rural World

The coin's story

This nickel-brass 10 escudos coin accompanies the European Campaign for the Countryside, organised by the Council of Europe in 1987 and 1988. The campaign aimed to combat rural depopulation and urban sprawl, to restore the balance between man and nature and to improve living conditions in the countryside. It was particularly concerned with women, young people and the elderly. In 1991, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe considered that it had raised public awareness of rural problems and given rise to many projects. The coin takes up the obverse of the circulating 10 escudos, with the shield and sailor's knot designed by Hélder Batista, who also designed the reverse. It was struck in 2,000,000 pieces for circulation and 50,000 in brilliant uncirculated quality for the annual sets.