Biodiversity on Coins

In 2023, the Vasco da Gama Aquarium celebrates its 125th anniversary. Years pass, but the commitment to disseminating Portugal’s aquatic biodiversity and knowledge of the seas remains.

To promote sea literacy and honor an institution that has done so much for it, the Sea Literacy collection coin is launched, designed by Baiba Šime.

With a face value of €7.50, this coin is a unique and unmissable piece for numismatics enthusiasts and ocean lovers.

The coin will be available in a normal and proof silver finish, the latter of which will be colored on both sides.

On its obverse, we can appreciate the exoskeleton of a sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus), a species that is part of the ecosystem along the Portuguese coast.

On the reverse of the coin, we find another fascinating aquatic creature: the giant squid, belonging to the genus Architeuthis. These creatures inhabit the cold waters between the polar seas and the tropics, and can reach an impressive 13 meters in length.

Although they are elusive and rarely observed, a giant squid was captured in 1972, on the Flemish Cap bank, in the North Atlantic, at a depth of around 130 meters – it is one of the marine monsters at the Vasco da Gama Aquarium.

Through the issuance of this coin, the Portuguese Mint keeps alive the memories of these two Aquarius icons, representing both the smallness and the greatness of the marine inhabitants.

We want to reinforce the importance of everyone’s responsibility in preserving the oceans. As part of this initiative, the Vasco da Gama Aquarium will hold an exhibition of projects developed by secondary school students, which aim to raise awareness of the conservation of marine ecosystems.