20 escudos 1958

Common. The 1958 20 Escudos from Saint Thomas & Prince (Pick 36) was part of a standard circulation issue by the Banco Nacional Ultramarino with no known short print run or extraordinary scarcity factors. While colonial-era Portuguese banknotes have developed a collector following, this denomination and type remain readily available in the numismatic market. The note's value is driven primarily by condition grade and collector interest in Portuguese colonial currency rather than intrinsic rarity. UNC examples command modest premiums typical of well-preserved mid-20th century banknotes but are not exceptionally difficult to obtain.

This 1958 issue reflects Portugal's continued colonial administration of São Tomé and Príncipe during the late Portuguese Empire period. The maritime imagery on the reverse—depicting a navigator and colonial-era sailing ship—references the Age of Discovery and Portugal's historical maritime dominance, while the portrait of D. Afonso V, a 15th-century Portuguese monarch, connects the note to Portugal's foundational period of overseas expansion. The Banco Nacional Ultramarino, as the issuing authority, was the central bank for Portuguese overseas territories, underscoring the economic integration of these African colonies with metropolitan Portugal.

The obverse features a formal portrait of D. Afonso V (1432-1481), the Portuguese king instrumental in early Portuguese colonization efforts, positioned on the right side in profile facing left. The left and center of the note display the national coat of arms and a circular maritime seal featuring a ship within a decorative border, representing the overseas dominion. The design employs a sophisticated color palette of brown, mauve, and cream with green and gold accents throughout intricate geometric and floral patterns. The reverse depicts a colonial-era maritime scene with a navigator or sailor in period dress examining navigation instruments on the left, while a large multi-masted sailing ship appears in the background on water, evoking the Age of Discovery. An ornate cartouche on the right contains the denomination in decorative scrollwork. The overall composition emphasizes Portugal's maritime heritage and colonial authority.

FRONT: 'BANCO NACIONAL ULTRAMARINO' (National Overseas Bank); 'DECRETO-LEI Nº 39122' (Decree-Law No. 39122); 'S.THOMÉ PRÍNCIPE' (St. Thomas and Prince); 'VINTE ESCUDOS' (Twenty Escudos); 'LISBOA 20 de NOVEMBRO de 1958' (Lisbon, 20th of November 1958); 'O ADMINISTRADOR' (The Administrator); 'O GOVERNADOR' (The Governor); 'D. AFONSO V' (D. Alfonso V); Serial number 'B 200575'; Denomination '20'. BACK: 'BANCO NACIONAL ULTRAMARINO' (National Overseas Bank); 'PAGÁVEL EM' (Payable in); 'S.TOMÉ E PRÍNCIPE' (St. Thomas and Prince); 'VINTE ESCUDOS' (Twenty Escudos); Denomination '20' in cartouche; Fine print attribution line along bottom margin (partially legible).

Intaglio engraving (line engraving) with multicolor printing. The note displays characteristic high-quality security features including intricate microprint patterns, complex geometric and floral engraved patterns, fine line cross-hatching, and detailed shading achieved through classical engraving techniques. The printer and security printer information is not fully legible from the provided images, though the fine print attribution appears on the reverse margin. This represents the standard printing methodology for Banco Nacional Ultramarino banknotes of the period.

This note corresponds to Pick catalog number P-36 with the serial number prefix 'B 200575' visible on the obverse. The PMG population report indicates one catalogued variant (P-36cts) for this base Pick number. The note is dated 'LISBOA 20 de NOVEMBRO de 1958' with signatures for 'O ADMINISTRADOR' (The Administrator) and 'O GOVERNADOR' (The Governor). No overprints or unusual security features are evident in the visual analysis. The standard variety without additional varieties or error notes is indicated by the catalog data provided.