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Friday 17 July 2020

1426) "Linha Do Douro," or "The Douro Line (Train)" Portugal: 12th Coin in the Ibero-American Coin Series titled "Historic Trains" brought out by the "Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda" (INCM): Date of issue: 06/2020:

1426) "Linha Do Douro," or "The Douro Line (Train)" Portugal: 12th Coin in the  Ibero-American Coin Series titled "Historic Trains" brought out by the "Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda" (INCM): Date of issue: 06/2020:

Integrated in the Ibero-American Annual Coin Series, which in 2020 is in its 12th edition, is the theme "Historical Trains". The Portuguese Coin highlights a train of the Douro Line, promoting one of the oldest railway lines in Portugal, which extends along a stunning landscape which is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The Linha do Douro is a railway line in Northern Portugal. The trains on the line are operated by Comboios de Portugal (CP).

The "Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda" (INCM) has brought out this Silver Proof Coin, which is part of the multi-national Coin Series and includes the two countries of the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal and Spain, as well as several Latin American countries, with a common chosen theme and Reverse design. This year's theme is "Historical Trains", as such, the Portuguese coins highlight the Linha do Douro.

From West to East, the line runs from the junction at Ermesinde to Pocinho.

Connecting the city of Porto with the Pocinho, high up in the Alto Douro, the later sections of the route are considered one of the most picturesque railway lines in Europe.


The Header/Banner shows the Reverse and Obverse of the 7.5 Euro Coin, placed against the background of the train passing through the beautiful landscape of the Douro Valley, with terraced vineyards on one side of the train and the river on the other side

The Douro Valley includes some of the most beautiful natural sceneries of Northern Portugal, which is formed of terraced vineyards and steep valleys. Closely situated along the winding river, this well-known train line traverses much of the beautiful countryside.

What is even more special about this particular line is that travelling on the Linha do Douro is like travelling back in time. Running every year between June and October, the route is especially popular with tourists, as it includes a vintage steam locomotive and five historical carriages which run the distance between Regua and Tua.

Together with the Steam Locomotive passing through the beautiful landscape, the unique journey is sought after and immensely popular. It has also been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Adds the UNESCO Book titled "Treasures of the World" (a complete guide to UNESCO World Heritage sites) by UNESCO Publishing:

The Alto Douro Region has been producing wine for some 2,000 years. Since the eighteenth century, its main product, port wine, has been world-famous. This long tradition of viticulture, has produced a cultural landscape of outstanding beauty that reflects its technological, social and economic evolution.

The landscape in the Demarcated Region of the Douro is formed by steep hills and boxed-in valleys that flatten out into plateaux above 400 metres. The most dominant feature of the landscape is the terraced vineyards that blanket the countryside.

Throughout the centuries, row upon row of terraces have been built according to different techniques. The earliest were narrow, irregular terraces buttressed by walls of stone that were regularly taken down and rebuilt. The long lines of continuous, regularly-shaped terraces date mainly from the end of the nineteenth century".

The Coin:

The Coins have been designed by Jose Santa-Barbara and are minted in both Sterling Silver and Cupro-nickel, which bear the same/common design.
The Reverse and Obverse of the Coin design placed side-by-side


The Reverse of the 7.5 Euro Coin depicts the Portuguese Railway's emblematic steam locomotive 0186 that was built in 1925 and still today continues to run on the historic Douro Line between the stations of Regua and Tua.

On the upper periphery is inscribed - "COMBOIO HISTORICO" (meaning "Historic Trains"), while on the lower periphery is inscribed - "LINHA DO DOURO" (meaning "The Douro Line").

At the centre left periphery is inscribed the signature of the designer Jose Santa-Barbara and the name of the Portuguese mint - "CASA DA MOEDA".

The Obverse of the 7.5 Euro Coin  which is common to all Coins in the Series, includes the crests of each Ibero-American country participating in this year's Coin Series. 

From the top clock-wise are the crests arranged along the periphery are - Ecuador, Spain, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru and Portugal.

In the centre is another Portuguese crest along with the denomination of the coin - "7.5 Euro" and the year of issue - "2020".

The specifications of the Silver Coin Variant are:

Denomination: 7.50 Euro; Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 13.5 grams; Diameter/Size: 30.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage:4,500 pieces; Mint: Casa da Moeda, Portugal: Year/Release Date: 06/2020.

The Silver Proof Coins are encapsulated and housed in a Presentation Case, with a base created out of rich Portuguese cork placed over a square of lucite/Perspex, and is accompanied by a Warranty Certificate/Certificate of Authenticity (COA).

The specifications of the Cupro-Nickel variant are:

Denomination: 7.50 Euro; Metal Composition: Cupro-nickel; Weight: 13.5 grams; Diameter/Size: 30.0 mm; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU); Mint: Casa da Moeda, Portugal; Mintage: 20,000 pieces; Year/Date of issue: 06/2020.


  





Links to interesting posts on Portugal and Spanish Coins and postage stamps on this blog:








9) "Nacional Museo del Prado", Spain: Celebrating the Bicentenary milestone (1819-2019): Commemorative Silver Coins of 30 Euros issued by Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre - Casa Real de la Moneda on 20.11.2019: Coins minted by the Madrid Mint



12) The New Silk Road: A Joint issue of a two stamp set of 1.50 Euros each by Spain (Correos Post) and China: Stamps issue date: 01.07.2019


13) Charming Towns, Spain : For the past five years, Correos (Spanish Post) has issued Stamps and Postcards on four beautiful Spanish villages as old-fashioned accordion-style postcards: Date of PostCards/Stamp set issue: 30.03.2020


14) "International LGBTQ Pride Day", Spain: The LGBTQ Pride Day Flag (Rainbow Flag) depicted on the first ever stamp issued: Date of Stamp issued: 15.06.2020

15) "Card Games", Spain: Correos Espana (Spanish Post) has issued a Stamp Sheet of 3.80 Euros representing the four suits (Swords, Pentacles, Cups & Wands) in a Tarot Deck, as the Origins of Card Games: Date of Stamp Sheet issue: 02.07.2020

16) A Graphic Humour Stamp by cartoonist Ricardo Martinez-RICARDO, Spain: Correos Espana (Spanish Post) has brought out this stamp of 5.45 Euros depicting a cartoon of a rhinoceros with a post/letter-box in place of its horn: Date of Stamp issue: 02.07.2020

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





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