Portugal Banknotes 50 Escudos banknote 1955 Fontes Pereira de Melo
Bank of Portugal - Banco de Portugal
Obverse: Portrait of Fontes Pereira de Melo (1819 – 1887) was a Prime Minister of Portugal. Coat of arms of Portugal at upper center.
Reverse: "O Pensador" Statue of The Thinker by Leopoldo de Almeida. The original seal of Banco de Portugal at left.
Watermark: Fontes Pereira de Melo.
Size: 142 x 83 mm
First Issue: 02 November 1954
Last Issue: 03 May 1961
Withdrawn from circulation: 31 December 1978.
Portugal banknotes - Portugal paper money
1958-1961 Issue
20 Escudos 50 Escudos 100 Escudos 500 Escudos 1000 Escudos
Fontes Pereira de Melo
António Maria de Fontes Pereira de Melo (Lisbon, 1819 – Lisbon, 1887) was a Portuguese statesman, politician, and engineer. He was the son of João de Fontes Pereira de Melo and wife and first cousin Jacinta Venância Rosa da Cunha Matos. Historically, he was a very important political figure, deputy, six times Minister of Finance, and in several occasions Prime Minister of Portugal. Pereira de Melo is mostly remembered for conducting dynamic industrial and public infrastructure policy which become known as Fontismo (after his name). He also implemented educational reforms in accordance with the industrialization process he initiated (see Instituto Industrial de Lisboa and Escola Industrial do Porto). His younger sister, Maria Henriqueta de Fontes Pereira de Melo, wife of Vicente Rodrigues Ganhado, was granted the noble title of 1st Marchioness of Fontes Pereira de Melo.