- For coins issued during the Portuguese colonization of Guinea-Bissau, see Portuguese Guinean 50 centavo coin.
| 50 centavos | |
|---|---|
| |
| General information | |
| Country |
|
| Value |
0.50 pesos |
| Years |
1977 |
| Measurements and composition | |
| Mass |
|
| Diameter |
25 mm |
| Composition |
|
| Appearance | |
| Shape |
round |
| Alignment |
medallic |
| Edge |
plain |
| Obverse |
Emblem of Guinea-Bissau, state title, year |
| Reverse |
Coconut tree (Cocos nucifera), value |
| v · d · e | |
The 50 centavo coin is a former commemorative circulation piece issued in 1977 by the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, in celebration of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It was distributed by the Central Bank of Guinea-Bissau. Prior to its eventual demonetization, the piece had a legal tender face value equivalent to 0.50 pesos.
The coin is composed of aluminum and has a mass of 2.2 grams and a diameter of 25 millimeters. Additionally, a small number of coins were reportedly struck using the aluminum-bronze planchets of the Guinea-Bissau 2½ peso coin, which has the same diameter as the 50 centavo piece but a heavier mass of approximately 6 grams. Both types of 50 centavo coin have medallic alignment and a plain edge, and are round in shape. Featured in the center of the obverse is the emblem of Guinea-Bissau – which consists of a five-pointed star between two olive branches with a seashell at the bottom. Tied around these branches is a scroll bearing the national motto of Guinea-Bissau in Portuguese, "UNIDADE LUTA PROGRESSO" (English: "Unity, Struggle, Progress"). Inscribed in a clockwise direction along the rim of the piece is the Portuguese state title of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, "REPÚBLICA DA GUINÉ-BISSAU", which commences at the lower left periphery of the piece and concludes at the bottom right. The date "1977" is engraved at the bottom of the piece, separated from the aforementioned text by two five-pointed stars. Featured at the center left of the reverse is an illustration of a coconut palm (Cocos nucifera), a plant native to Guinea-Bissau. To the right, the face value "50 CENTAVOS" is written on two lines, with the numeral printed larger than the denomination above the letters "VOS". The rims of both the obverse and reverse are raised.
The total mintage of the aluminum piece is 6,000,000 pieces, whereas that of the aluminum-bronze coin is currently unknown, albeit expected to be low. All Guinea-Bissau 50 centavo coins were minted as business strikes.
References[]
- Numismatic Guaranty Corporation website
- Numista – 50 Centavos (Guinea-Bissau) (English) (French)
Guinea-Bissau peso on the English Wikipedia
| Guinea-Bissau peso | |
|---|---|
| Banknotes | 50 P • 100 P • 500 P • 1,000 P • 5,000 P • 10,000 P |
| Coins | Official: 50 c • 1 P • 2½ P • 5 P • 20 P • 2,000 P • 10,000 P • 20,000 P Unofficial: 250 P • 1,000 P |
| Miscellaneous | Centavo • Central Bank of Guinea-Bissau • Peso |