Depicts a stylised image of Afonso l, together with his sword and the Castle of Guimarães. To the left of the image is the Portuguese shield above the country name. To the lower right is the inscription 'GUIMARÃES 2012' with the logo of Guimarães 2012 European Capital of Culture. Along the lower edge of the inner part are the mintmark INCM and the name of the designer. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.

Afonso I (1106–1185), nicknamed the Conqueror, the Founder or the Great by the Portuguese, and El-Bortukali ([in Arabic البرتقالي] "the Portuguese") and Ibn-Arrink or Ibn Arrinq ([in Arabic ابن الرَّنك or ابن الرَنْق] "son of Henry", "Henriques") by the Moors whom he fought, was the first king of Portugal. He achieved the independence of the County of Portugal, establishing a new kingdom and doubling its area with the Reconquista, an objective that he pursued until his death.

The Castle of Guimarães (Portuguese: Castelo de Guimarães), is the principal medieval castle in the municipality Guimarães, in the northern region of Portugal. It was built under the orders of Mumadona Dias in the 10th century to defend the monastery from attacks by Moors and Norsemen. Emblematic of the medieval Portuguese castle, Guimarães is associated with the origins of the Portuguese nation.

Engraver: José de Guimarães

A geographical map of Western Europe spans the outer ring and inner core on the right side of the coin. The inscription 2 EURO is superimposed over the map of Europe, with the numeral “2” located in an open field representing the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

12 stars are located on the right side of the outer ring, with six stars atop the map of Europe and six stars below it; six vertical stripes cut across the inner core of the coin, visually connecting the upper and lower star segments.

Luc Luycx, a designer at the Royal Belgian Mint, designed the Euro’s common reverse; his initials, LL, are seen on the right side of the design, just under the “O” in “EURO.”

Depicts the seven castles and five coats of arms also found on the national side, all equally spaced.