Portugal 20 Escudos banknote 1925
Obverse: Portrait of the Marquis of Pombal and Rebuilding Lisbon (1755 Lisbon earthquake) - Imaginary view of the Praça do Comercio (Commerce Square) in Lisbon after the 1755 earthquake, with the Tagus River in the foreground, sailing ships and barges approaching the steps leading to the square. Sailors unloading goods and figures promenading along the waterfront and around the equestrian statue of King José I, and the triumphal archway in the middle of a monumental façade in the background. In the top, the issuer name "BANCO DE PORTUGAL".
Reverse: In the top, the issuer name "BANCO DE PORTUGAL". Coat of Arms of Portugal at center and value in each corner.
Printer: Waterlow & Sons Limited, London.
Portugal banknotes - Portugal paper money
1924-1925 "Chapa 3 & 4" Issue
5 Escudos 10 Escudos 20 Escudos 50 Escudos 100 Escudos
500 Escudos 1000 Escudos
Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal
Dom Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal, 1st Count of Oeiras (13 May 1699 – 8 May 1782) was an 18th-century Portuguese statesman. He was Secretary of the State of the Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves (the equivalent to a today's Prime Minister) in the government of Joseph I of Portugal from 1750 to 1777. Undoubtedly the most prominent minister in the government, he is considered today to have been the de facto head of government. Pombal is notable for his swift and competent leadership in the aftermath of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. He implemented sweeping economic policies in Portugal to regulate commercial activity and standardize quality throughout the country. Pombal was instrumental in weakening the grip of the Inquisition. The term Pombaline is used to describe not only his tenure, but also the architectural style which formed after the great earthquake.
Pombal, who was considered an estrangeirado, introduced many fundamental administrative, educational, economic, and ecclesiastical reforms justified in the name of "reason" and instrumental in advancing secularization. However, historians argue that Pombal’s "enlightenment," while far-reaching, was primarily a mechanism for enhancing autocracy at the expense of individual liberty and especially an apparatus for crushing opposition, suppressing criticism, and furthering colonial economic exploitation as well as intensifying print censorship and consolidating personal control and profit.
Praça do Comércio - Commerce Square
The Praça do Comércio (English: Commerce Square) is located in the city of Lisbon, Portugal. Situated near the Tagus river, the square is still commonly known as Terreiro do Paço (English: Palace Square), because it was the location of the Paços da Ribeira (Royal Ribeira Palace) until it was destroyed by the great 1755 Lisbon Earthquake. After the earthquake, the square was completely remodelled as part of the rebuilding of the Pombaline Downtown, ordered by Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal, who was the Minister of the Kingdom of Portugal from 1750 to 1777, during the reign of Dom José I, King of Portugal.