806) "Four-Leaf Clover": Endangered Flora Species: A Silver Proof 5 Euro Coin and a Brilliant Uncirculated Cupro Nickel 5 Euro Coin issued by the "Impresa Nacional Casa da Moeda" (INCM), Portugal, issued in September 2018:

806) "Four-Leaf Clover": Endangered Flora Species: A Silver Proof 5 Euro Coin and a Brilliant Uncirculated Cupro Nickel 5 Euro Coin issued by the "Impresa Nacional Casa da Moeda" (INCM), Portugal, issued in September 2018:

For more interesting posts on Coins and stamps of Portugal, please visit the following links:

1) India-Portugal: Joint Stamp issue: A set of two Commemorative Stamps in the denominations of 2500 Paise or Rs.25/- and 500 Paise or Rs.5/- brought out by India Poston 07.01.2017

2) Did you Know Series (15): A visit to Fort St. George Museum, Chennai (Part III): i) Indo-Danish Coins ii) Indo-Dutch Coins iii) Indo-French Coins iv) Indo-Portuguese Coins

3) "Four Leaf Clover": Endangered Flora Species: A Silver Proof 5 Euro Coin and a Brilliant Uncirculated Cupro-Nickel Coin issued by the Impresa Nacional Casa de Moneda (INCA) in September 2018


The Impresa Nacional Casa da Moeda (INCM) has begun a new Series of Collector Coins which highlight endangered flora once prevalent in Portugal and on the Iberian Peninsula. The Coin Series will focus not only on the flora which is under threat but on the threatened species of fauna as well and its primary purpose is to promote knowledge and preservation of endangered species of National flora and fauna and to find ways to combat, halt or even reverse their endangerment. 

The Four-leaf Clover (Marsilea quadrifolia):

The first coin issued in the Series depicts the four-leaf clover (Marsilea quadrifolia), which is a semi-aquatic plant species occurring mainly in the riparian areas.

It is a species native to Europe, once found in abundance from Portugal and Spain, to France and Northern Italy, and East all the way to the European region of Turkey - though it is often associated far more with the Emerald Isles of Ireland.

The first introduction of this plant to North America was first detected in Connecticut in 1860, introduced by Irish immigrants and migrating Siberian aquatic birds.

Often referred to as the European Water Clover or Water Shamrock, the plant is an aquatic fern which anchors itself to the muddy bottoms of quiet, shallow lakes and streams. They can occasionally reach 30.0 centimetres (or one foot) in height, if the plant is rooted deeply with the leaves resembling a four-leaf clover, giving it the common name - Water Shamrock. 

The four leaflets are triangular-obovate in shape and can range from deep green with patterns of lighter shades to a solid pale green. This particular plant prefers light sandy and medium soils and can grow in semi-shaded light woodland areas, usually with no shade, but it does require moist or wet soil and is capable of growing in water.

In areas of Europe where the temperatures are rising and causing some of the habitats in which the Water Clover thrives in, to dry up and become less fertile, the four-leaf Clover is currently in a critical and marked state of regression - particularly in Portugal. The lesser abundance of the Water Clover is also due to man-made alterations and destruction of its habitat due to an encroachment of humans who are building houses and structures in more rural and previously unspoilt areas. 

   The Reverse and Obverse of the Proof 5 Euro Silver  Coin

The Reverse design depicts a collection of Water Clovers with patterns of familiar lighter linear markings often seen on variants of the clover leaves. The text "TREVO DE 4 FOLHAS" (meaning "4 Leaf Clover), is engraved on the lower left periphery, below the flower design. 

To the lower right periphery is the name of the designer "CATARINA SOBRAL".

The Obverse design depicts a more inclusive image of Clovers and shows the rooted Clovers and their slim stems.  The denomination "5 Euro" is seen to the right of the primary design with the Crest/Emblem of Portugal placed just below the denomination.

On the lower left periphery is mentioned the country name "PORTUGAL" and the year of issue "2018".

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 5 Euro; Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 14.0 grams; Diameter/Size: 30.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof with Applied Colour; Maximum Mintage: 2,500 pieces; Mint: Impresa Nacional Casa de Moeda (INCM); Year of issue: 2018; Designer: Catarina Sobral.

The Reverse and Obverse of the Brilliant Uncirculated 5 Euro Cupro-nickel Coin

The Reverse design depicts a collection of Water Clovers with patterns of familiar lighter linear markings often seen on variants of the cover leaves. The text "TREVO DE 4 FOLHAS" (meaning "4 Leaf Clover"), is engraved on the lower left periphery below the flower design.

To the lower right periphery is the name of the designer "CATARINA SOBRAL".

The Obverse design depicts a more inclusive image of Clovers and shows the rooted Clovers and their slim stems. The denomination "5 Euro" is seen to the right of the primary design with the Crest/Emblem of Portugal placed just below the denomination.

On the lower left periphery is mentioned the country name "PORTUGAL" and the year of issue "2018".

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 5 Euro; Metal composition: Cupro-nickel; Weight: 14.0 grams; Diameter/Size: 30.0 mm; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated; Maximum Mintage: 60,000 pieces; Mint: Impresa Nacional Casa de Moeda (INCM); Year of issue: 2018; Designer: Catarina Sobral.

The Proof Silver Coins are encapsulated and presented in an environmentally friendly display case made of native Portuguese cork with a Perspex base.

A part of the money collected from the sale of these coins is going to be earmarked for the "Environment Fund", which has been set up by the Institute of Nature Conservation and Forestry.