2 euro PORTUGAL (2011) Fernão Mendes Pinto

in the centre a carrack sailing right on the waves depicted by geographical names of places visited by Pinto; along the top edge: 1511 FERNÃO MENDES PINTO 2011; along the bottom edge: PORTUGAL; at the edge a ring of twelve five-pointed stars - symbol of the European Union

left from the centre face value: 2, on the right inscription: EURO; in the background of the inscription a map of Europe; in the background of the map vertically six parallel lines ending on both sides with five-pointed stars (the reverse is common for all euro coins)

reeded with concave seven castles and five shields from Portuguese Coat of Arms:

15 IX 2011

circulating

Isabel Carriço, Fernando Branco (initials IC-FB among waves along the right edge of the obverse), Luc Luycx (initials LL below letter 'O' in EURO on the reverse)

Imprensa Nacional - Casa da Moeda (National Press - The Mint), Lisbon (mint mark INCM among waves along the left edge of the obverse)

2011

500 000

+ 12 500 in boxed sets

This coin commemorates 500th anniversary of birth of Portuguese explorer Fernão Mendes Pinto (1511-1583). A 26-year-old Pinto went to India by ship, where he begun his journey in the Far East Asia, which lasted 21 years. He wrote the memories from the journey in a book named Peregrinação (literally - Pilgrimage), which was printed for the first time in 1614. Therefore also this word can be found among the waves on the obverse.