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CC 145 2013
Blister pack
Proof
Proof blister
Portugal · 250 years of the Bell Tower of the Clergy
Mintage4,216
Issue price€17.47
Issue date20 Jun 2013
PackagingBlister pack
Edge lettering5 Wappenschilde + 7 castles, evenly distributed
Market price€119.00
Issue occasion
The coin commemorates the 250th anniversary of the construction of the “Torre dos Clérigos”. The design shows the tower from street level, as well as Porto’s characteristic skyline, viewed from the southern bank of the Douro. The depiction is complemented by the inscription “250 ANOS TORRE DOS CLÉRIGOS — 2013” and the Portuguese coat of arms.
The design
The tower is depicted as seen from the street at close range, alongside the typical skyline of Porto, as viewed from the southern bank of the Douro River. The inscription “250 ANOS TORRE DOS CLÉRIGOS — 2013” appears in a semicircle at the top. The Portuguese coat of arms is shown at the bottom right, with the issuing country “PORTUGAL” below it. The mint mark and the artist’s name “INCM — HUGO MACIEL” appear on the left.
The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the coin’s outer ring.
The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the coin’s outer ring.
Background on the topic
The Torre dos Clérigos is the bell tower of the Igreja dos Clérigos, a Baroque church in the historic centre of Porto. The church and tower were built for the Irmandade dos Clérigos Pobres, a brotherhood that, among other things, cared for sick or impoverished clergy and arranged their burials. Construction of the tower began after the completion of the church and was finished in 1763. The anniversary refers to this year.
The complex was designed by Nicolau Nasoni. The architect and painter, who came from Italy, had been working in Portugal since the early 18th century and shaped Baroque architecture particularly in the north of the country. He combined Italian-influenced forms with the granite frequently used in Porto. In addition to the Igreja dos Clérigos, he was involved in the construction of several churches, palaces and country estates in the region. After his death, Nasoni was buried in the Igreja dos Clérigos.
Built of granite, the tower is approximately 76 metres high and divided into several storeys that taper towards the top. Its façades feature Baroque decoration, including cornices, pilasters, window surrounds and statues of saints. Inside, a narrow spiral staircase with around 240 steps leads to the upper platform. Because of its height and elevated location, the tower was visible for a long time from many parts of the city and also from the Douro. It therefore served not only as a bell tower but also as a landmark in the cityscape.
Porto’s historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. The Torre dos Clérigos is one of the buildings with which the city is most frequently identified. The completion of a quarter of a millennium since its construction therefore provided a clearly datable occasion to feature a work of Portuguese Baroque architecture and, at the same time, an urban landmark on a commemorative coin.
The complex was designed by Nicolau Nasoni. The architect and painter, who came from Italy, had been working in Portugal since the early 18th century and shaped Baroque architecture particularly in the north of the country. He combined Italian-influenced forms with the granite frequently used in Porto. In addition to the Igreja dos Clérigos, he was involved in the construction of several churches, palaces and country estates in the region. After his death, Nasoni was buried in the Igreja dos Clérigos.
Built of granite, the tower is approximately 76 metres high and divided into several storeys that taper towards the top. Its façades feature Baroque decoration, including cornices, pilasters, window surrounds and statues of saints. Inside, a narrow spiral staircase with around 240 steps leads to the upper platform. Because of its height and elevated location, the tower was visible for a long time from many parts of the city and also from the Douro. It therefore served not only as a bell tower but also as a landmark in the cityscape.
Porto’s historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. The Torre dos Clérigos is one of the buildings with which the city is most frequently identified. The completion of a quarter of a millennium since its construction therefore provided a clearly datable occasion to feature a work of Portuguese Baroque architecture and, at the same time, an urban landmark on a commemorative coin.