Banknote Billet Portuguese Guinea 100 escudos 1971

This 100 escudos banknote was issued by Portuguese Guinea and bears the date of December 17, 1971. It belongs to a monetary series issued under the Portuguese colonial administration in this West African territory, now known as Guinea-Bissau, which gained independence in 1974.

The banknote is dedicated to Nuno Tristão, a 15th-century Portuguese navigator and explorer, recognised as one of the first Europeans to explore the coasts of West Africa, particularly the regions corresponding to present-day Guinea-Bissau. His depiction on this banknote reflects the policy of the Portuguese Estado Novo, which promoted historical figures from the Age of Discovery in order to legitimise colonial presence.

This type of banknote represents a significant historical testimony of the Portuguese colonial period in Africa. The escudo was the official currency of the overseas territories under Portuguese administration, and banknotes of this type circulated alongside those issued for continental Portugal, with distinct series adapted to each territory.

From a numismatic perspective, this banknote represents a specimen from the end of the Portuguese colonial period, issued only a few years before decolonisation. Banknotes from Portuguese Guinea are today sought after by collectors specialising in Portuguese or African colonial numismatics, particularly due to their historical significance and their limited print run compared to metropolitan issues. The precise date printed on this banknote, December 17, 1971, corresponds to the official authorisation or circulation date as printed by the issuing authority of the time.