2022-04-28 Thu

Observed on 20th January every year, National Heroes' Day of Cape Verde commemorates the legacies of Cabral and other freedom fighters.

Citizens of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde have great reverence for Amilcar Cabral, a nationalist leader who was assassinated before he could see his native Guinea-Bissau and nearby Cape Verde achieved independence from Portugal.

January 20 is observed as National Heroes' Day because it falls on the anniversary of Cabral's murder. That tragic event further stirred the fire of the liberation movement, and the country became independent in 1974.

In past years, the government has issued stamps, banknotes, and coins with Cabral's image on National Heroes' Day. The above coin is a 50 Cape Verdean escudo Copper-Nickel issued in the year 1977 by the Republic of Cabo Verde.

The coin on the obverse depicts the 3rd Coat of arms at the top with the denomination 50 ESCUDOS and the year 1977 below it. The name of the country is inscribed around it. The reverse, on the other hand, depicts a bust of freedom leader Amilcar Lopes da Costa Cabral facing left. With the years 1924 – 1973 on the right and his name AMILCAR CABRAL on the left.

Image Courtesy: https://colnect.com