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Commemorative coin of 2 euros of Portugal, issued in 2012 with a circulation of 520,000 copies. Dedicated to Guimarães as the European Capital of Culture 2012. Minted at INCM, Lisbon. Bimetallic, diameter 25.75 mm, weight 8.5 g.
Obverse
The center of the coin depicts the stylized architecture of Guimarães - a fragment of the medieval Guimarães Castle or the characteristic city wall with the city motto "AQUI NASCEU PORTUGAL" (Here Portugal was born). Above - "GUIMARÃES CAPITAL EUROPEIA DA CULTURA", below - "PORTUGAL 2012". INCM mark. On the outer ring are 12 five-pointed EU stars.
Reverse
The reverse is the common side of the 2 euro coins of the second type, designed by Luc Luix (Royal Belgian Mint). It depicts a map of Europe as a single continent without internal borders - a symbol of European unity. On the left - a large denomination "2" and the inscription "EURO", on the right - a map with six thin horizontal lines in the background. On the outer ring - 12 stars of the European Union. The band - with thin ribbing and an inscription with five shields alternating with seven castles - motifs of the Portuguese coat of arms.
Historical context
Guimarães is a city in northern Portugal in the Nortes region, the capital of the Braga district. It has about 159,000 inhabitants. Known as the "cradle of Portugal" (berço de Portugal): it was here in 1109 that the first king of Portugal, Afonso I Henriques (D. Afonso Henriques, c. 1109-1185), was born, who proclaimed the independence of the County of Portugal from Castile and León in 1139 and officially became king in 1143. The 11th-century Guimarães Castle and other historical monuments are intertwined into a complex that preserves the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. The city's motto, written on a 14th-century wall, is "AQUI NASCEU PORTUGAL" (Here Portugal was born). In 2001, the historic center of Guimarães was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 2012, together with the Slavic city of Maribor, Guimarães was the European Capital of Culture. Hundreds of cultural events, exhibitions, and concerts took place during the year. The city has invested in the restoration and modernization of cultural infrastructure.