10 Patacas 1984, Macau
| in Krause book | Number: 59с |
| Years of issue: | 12.05.1984 |
| Edition: | -- |
| Signatures: | Unknown signature |
| Serie: | No Serie |
| Specimen of: | 1981 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 134 х 69 |
| Printer: | Bradbury, Wilkinson & Company Limited, New Malden |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
Avers:
On the right side is Farel de Guia lighthouse.
At the 94 meter Guia hill, on the Macau Peninsula, about 1637, the Portuguese built a fort for protection against the Dutch. In addition, around 1622, near was built a traditional Portuguese chapel. During the renovation of the chapel in 1996 - 2001, were found numerous frescoes with biblical scenes. This, apparently, local artists painted pictures that are adorned with typical Chinese lions and clouds. Such stories are often found in Macau, they combine European and Oriental culture. Area fort ammunition depots, outposts and watchtowers was a military facility until 1976, but is currently available for tourists.
In 1864, in the vicinity of the chapel was laid the first lighthouse on the Chinese coast. Since 1865, it is still in operation. Two-storey white tower, about 15 feet tall, is still a popular landmark sign of Macau. Lighthouse has a diameter about 7 meters in the ground. His current position is 113° 35' East longitude and 21° 11' North latitude. Originally, the light was created by kerosene lamp, that was installed and spun on a wooden wheel with a rope. To the lamp goes a spiral staircase. Tower architect, Carlos Vicente da Rocha, was half Portuguese and local. In 1874 the lighthouse was damaged by a typhoon and failed for 30 years. After a long repair and installation of new lighting and reflectors, the lighthouse again began operations on June 20, 1910. The hill, on which the lighthouse stands, is the highest point in Macau, and it extends a good view of the entire city.
Portuguese colonial coat of arms is lower.
The coat of arms of Portugal was officially adopted on 30 June 1911, along with the republican flag of Portugal. It is based on the coat of arms used by the Portuguese Kingdom since the Middle Ages.
After the official recognition of the Kingdom of Portugal as an independent country in 1143 (it had been declared in 1139), silver bezants were added to the Burgundian flag, symbolising coins and the right the monarch had to issue currency, as leader of a sovereign state. Eventually, and given the enormous dynamism of medieval heraldry, it is believed that the shield degraded and lost some elements in battle, eventually losing the cross format. This is how King Sancho I inherited the shield from his father, Afonso Henriques, with no cross and the quinas (the five escutcheons with the silver bezants) in its place. Later, the number of silver bezants in each escutcheon would be reduced from eleven to five by King Sebastian I, and modern explanations interpret them as the five wounds of Jesus Christ, although this is highly improbable.
It was during the reign of Afonso III that the red border with golden castles (not towers, as some sources state) was added. Although the number of castles could vary between eight to twelve, Afonso IV would define them as twelve and Sebastian I would finally fix them as seven. They supposedly represent the Moorish castles conquered by the Kingdom of Portugal during the Reconquista. Their origin is probably Castilian, but unlike Spanish castles, which usually have their gates coloured blue (hence opened), Portuguese castles were always depicted with gold gates (hence closed). As a matter of fact, Afonso III was the second son of King Afonso II of Portugal and thus was not expected to inherit the throne, which was destined to go to his elder brother King Sancho II of Portugal. As a second son, the coat of arms of Afonso III included both the arms of his father and the arms of his mother Urraca of Castile, thus the Castillan red border with golden castillan castles, around the Portuguese shield inherited from his father.
An important element of Portuguese heraldry since the 15th century, the armillary sphere was many times used in Portuguese colonial flags, mainly in Brazil. It was a navigation instrument used to calculate distances and represents the importance of Portugal during the Age of Discovery, as well as the vastness of its colonial empire when the First Republic was implemented.
The coat of arms sported different crowns during imperial rule of Portuguese and foreign crowns.
1)Pre mid-1500s the coat of arms had an open imperial crown
2)Crown of the House of Habsburg
3)Various crowns of the House of Braganza (1640-1817)
4)Crown of João VI (1817-1910)
Denominations in numerals are in all corners. Centered in words.
Revers:
The view at Baía da Praia Grande in XIX century.
The Praia Grande (Portuguese for large beach) is a bay in Macau, a former Portuguese colony in China. Located on the east side of the Macau Peninsula, it served as the chief promenade in Macau. It was the site of the governor's palace, the administrative offices, the consulates, and the leading commercial establishments. It has been credited as probably the "most depicted view of XIX-century Macau", and its most characteristic landmark for many years. The bay was confined by the Fortress of St. Francis in the north-east and the Fortress of Bomparto in the south-west. Only a few colonial buildings remain, and the landscape has been largely altered by land reclamation and high-rise buildings.
Seal of the bank with a junk ship on the left side.
Denominations in numerals are in all corners.
Comments:
If you find my work useful I will be grateful for any help in supporting the site.
-
PayPal
-
For users of European Union banking system