Portugal (1978-1983)

This serie of banknotes belongs to the period in which General Ramalho Eanes is the president of the country. Since 1976 the Prime Minister was the socialist Mário Soares, who had to face the difficult economic situation of Portugal (which he did with the help of the US and the European Community) and that by breaking the agreement with the conservatives of the PSD, Eanes chose 3 presidents (Alfredo Nobre da Costa, Carlos Mota Pinto and Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo) until the 1979 elections. In these the conservative bloc won a majority and made Francisco de Sá Carneiro prime minister, which revoked the nationalizations and liberalized the economy, creating a conflict between Prime Minister and President, who despite losing the support of the conservatives, won the presidential elections. In 1980 Sá Carneiro and his Minister of Defense died in a helicopter accident, being replaced by Francisco Pinto Balsemão, who promoted a constitutional reform that reinforced the normal development of the parliamentary system, could not prevent the rupture of the Alliance and Eanes called elections in 1983, which the socialist Mário Soares won again, forming a great coalition with the PSD. There are banknotes of 20 Portuguese escudos, 100 Portuguese escudos, 500 Portuguese escudos and 5,000 Portuguese escudos

20 Portuguese escudos (vinte escudos)

This banknote worth 20 escudos was first circulated October the 4th of 1978. On the main side right, you can see Gago Coutinho, a Portuguese naval officer and aviation pioneer who crossed the South Atlantic Ocean from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro. Next to him there is a compass rose and in the center it can be seen Portuguese coat of arms, as well as sextant. In the center appears the written value of the banknote and the name of the National Bank of the country in Portuguese (Banco de Portugal).
The rest of the banknote is fulled with decorative elements. On the other side of the banknote appears Gago's plane, Torre de Belem in Lisbon, an astrolabe and the American continent. You can see two 20's, in opposite corners, the name of the National Bank and decorative elements. This banknote has Gago Coutinho as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 13.7 cm x 6.5 cm.

100 Portuguese escudos (cem escudos)

This banknote worth 100 escudos was first circulated September the 20th of 1978. On the main side right it can be seen Camilo Castelo Branco, a 19th century Portuguese writer who belongs to the Romanticism and is one of the most important in Portuguese literature. Next to him appears a 100 and in the middle, Portugal's coat of arms and the written value of the banknote, as well as the name of the National Bank in Portuguese (Banco de Portugal) and another 100.
The rest of the banknote is fulled with decorative elements. On the other side of the banknote it can be seen the historic center of Porto in the middle 19th century. Moreover there are two 100's, the name of the National Bank and decorative elements. This banknote has Camilo Castelo Branco as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 14.9 cm x 7.3 cm.

100 escudos (cem escudos)

This banknote worth 100 escudos was first circulated February the 24th of 1981. On the main side right it can be seen Manuel María Barbosa du Bocage, a Neoclassic Portuguese writer who is one of the most important in the genre arcádia lusitana. Next to him appears a 100 and in the middle, Portugal's coat of arms and the written value of the banknote, as well as the name of the National Bank in Portuguese (Banco de Portugal) and another 100. 
The rest of the banknote is fulled with decorative elements. On the other side of the banknote it appears an image of the historical center (Rossio square) of Lisbon in the beginning of the 19th century. Moreover it can be seen two 100's, in opposite corners, the name of the National Bank and decorative elements. This banknote has Manuel María Barbosa du Bocage as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 14.9 cm x 7.3 cm.