Help required on a Silver medallion

[Alex944]

Hello Forum,

I picked up an interesting piece today, but I am not 100% sure on what it exactly is, so I was hoping you could shed some more light. For instance, I could not find it on Numista but that may be because I can't find the official name of this medallion.

It was made in 1964 by the BNU - Banco Nacional Ultramarino in Lisbon, as a commemoration of 100 years of overseas ''activities''. It weighs in at 65 grams and the composition is 0.925 silver.

Unfortunately the person in store did not speak english, and since I do not speak portuguese, I was unable to really ask any further questions, but it's definitely something out of the ordinary. Would any one happen to know some more info on this? For instance it's official name (numista page or something similar would be great) or mintage (not sure if thats the correct term for commemorative medallions)?

 

Any help is much appreciated. Pictures attached

All the best,

[sixgun]

You seem to have most of it already.

There are a couple of these medallions in bronze for sale on ebay.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353755157110

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304204984798

These actually look like the same medallion as there is tarnishing over a sail in the same place.

 

The silver version is seen here:

https://medalhasportuguesas.wordpress.com/2019/04/29/100-anos-de-actividade/

https://medalhasportuguesas-wordpress-com.translate.goog/2019/04/29/100-anos-de-actividade/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=es&_x_tr_pto=nui

Notice the silver version is 50mm and the bronze version is said to be 80mm. So you can check whether it is silver or not.

Edited November 13, 2021 by sixgun

[danmc82]

@paolo is good with Medallions.

[Alex944]

15 hours ago, sixgun said:

Notice the silver version is 50mm and the bronze version is said to be 80mm. So you can check whether it is silver or not.

Thank you for your input, i do appreciate it. It measures as 50mm in diameter so I’m quite sure it is the silver version

[paolo]

On 13/11/2021 at 06:57, danmc82 said:

@paolo is good with Medallions.

It was released by a bank in portugal , which was 100 years old in 1964. bank often releases these commemorative medals in silver to give to their clients

[Alex944]

Thank you @paolo  any idea on what a normal “mintage” would be of such medals? Contemplating if maybe reaching out to the BNU could give some more clarification. 
 

thank you for chiming in!

[paolo]

On 15/11/2021 at 09:16, Alex944 said:

Thank you @paolo  any idea on what a normal “mintage” would be of such medals? Contemplating if maybe reaching out to the BNU could give some more clarification. 
 

thank you for chiming in!

Usually it s quite limited, i would guess not more than 1000.

Just now, paolo said:

Usually it s quite limited, i would guess not more than 1000.

I dont think that bank exist anymore, maybe under a new name 

[Alex944]

55 minutes ago, paolo said:

I dont think that bank exist anymore, maybe under a new name 

Thanks again for your information. I checked and the BNU was merged with a different national bank in 2001. Since I haven't been able to find any mintage figures, I reached out to the bank that they merged with and requested some more information. Apart from requesting the mintage number, I also asked how these medallions were distributed; whether or not they were gifts to clients or if they were available by purchase. I will update this thread once I receive their feedback.

 

Appreciate your help on this.