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50 Centavos
| Issuer | Banco Nacional Ultramarino |
|---|---|
| Year | 1914 |
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| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Escudo (1914-1928) |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | BANCO NACIONAL ULTRAMARINO EM S. THOMÉ CINCOENTA CENTAVOS MOEDA CORRENTE PAGAVEL NA FILIAL DE LOANDA (Translation: National Overseas Bank in São Tomé, Fifty centavos, current currency, Payable at the Luanda branch) |
| Reverse description | The reverse is printed in golden-brown tones and presents a central allegorical vignette of a seated female figure, turned three-quarters left, resting beside an anchor with sailing ships visible in the background. Two circular guilloche rosettes at left and right each bear the denomination "0$50" in bold numerals, surmounted by banners carrying the split legend "BANCO NACIONAL" and "ULTRAMARINO". The imprint "BRADBURY WILKINSON & C.º GRAVADORES, LONDRES" runs along the lower margin. |
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| Comments |
Banco Nacional Ultramarino's 1914 fractional issues were emergency stopgap notes, rushed into service when the outbreak of the First World War caused an immediate hoarding crisis across Portuguese colonial territories. Small-denomination coin, especially silver, vanished from circulation almost overnight as the public converted metal to savings. These centavo notes filled the gap directly.
Bradbury Wilkinson handled the printing, as they did for a significant share of BNU's output during this period. The London firm's engraved work is generally reliable, though the fractional notes from this wartime run were produced under pressure and with shorter lead times than the bank's larger denominations.