Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 5 Patacas 1992-2010, KM# 56, Macau
  • 5 Patacas 1992-2010, KM# 56, Macau
Description

Macau was formerly a colony of the Portuguese Empire, after Ming China leased the territory as a trading post in 1557. Originally governing under Chinese authority and sovereignty, Portugal was given perpetual occupation rights for Macau in 1887. Macau remained under Portuguese control until 1999, when it was returned to China.

Designer: Justino Lei

Obverse

Depicts a bat on top of a stylized design of Chinese Characters (literal meaning Bay Gate or Macau),
the colony name in Portuguese in the centre, date below.

In China, bats have been associated with happiness, joy and good fortune. Five bats are used to symbolise the "Five Blessings": longevity, wealth, health, love of virtue and peaceful death.


MACAU

1992

Reverse

Depicts a junk (left) on the water in front-right of the ruins of Saint Paul's, value in Chinese above, value in Portuguese below.

A junk is a type of Chinese sailing ship with fully battened sails.

The Ruins of Saint Paul's (Chinese: 大三巴牌坊) are the ruins of a 17th-century Catholic religious complex in Santo António, Macau, China. They include what was originally St. Paul's College and the Church of St. Paul (Igreja de São Paulo) also known as "Mater Dei", a 17th-century Portuguese church dedicated to Saint Paul the Apostle. Today, the ruins are one of Macau's best-known landmarks and one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World. In 2005, they were officially listed as part of the Historic Centre of Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.



5 PATACAS

Edge

5 Patacas

KM# 56 Schön# 59
Characteristics
Material Cupronickel
Weight 10.1 g
Diameter 27.5 mm
Thickness 2 mm
Shape polygon
Sides 12
Alignment Medal
Mint
Pobjoy Mint (PM)

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