How to Identify the 2 Euro (150 Years PSP)
A collector's guide to confirming Portugal's 2018 PSP 2 euro by its two female profiles, DIREITOS LIBERDADES GARANTIAS legend, date, and bi-metallic format.
Read the full 2 Euro (150 Years PSP) encyclopedia entry →
Read the National Side First
The deciding features are on the national (commemorative) side. Confirm the legend DIREITOS LIBERDADES GARANTIAS and the two female profiles, along with wording referencing the PSP and its 150-year anniversary and the country name for Portugal. This text is what separates the PSP issue from the many other national 2 euro designs.
Confirm the Common Side and Date
The opposite face should be the standard common 2 euro side: a large numeral 2 with EURO, a map of Europe, and the ring of twelve EU stars. Look for the date 2018, which matches the anniversary year for this type. If the date differs or the national side lacks the two profiles and the DIREITOS LIBERDADES GARANTIAS legend, you are looking at a different coin.
Check Format, Size, and Metal
This is a bi-metallic coin: a silvery cupronickel center inside a gold-colored nickel-brass ring, about 25.75 mm across and roughly 8.5 grams, with a reeded, lettered edge. A one-color, undersized, magnetic, or notably light piece of this design is a warning sign, since a genuine 2 euro is non-magnetic and precisely made.
Rule Out Look-Alikes
Many countries issue 2 euro commemoratives that share the identical common side, so never identify the coin from that face alone; always read the national side. Portugal also issued other 2 euro commemoratives in different years with different themes, and other nations have honored their own police forces on 2 euro coins. The specific pairing of two female profiles, the DIREITOS LIBERDADES GARANTIAS legend, the PSP anniversary, and the 2018 date is unique to this Portuguese issue.
Authentication Cautions
Counterfeit 2 euro coins exist because of the denomination's value. Check that the coin is non-magnetic, that the two metals are cleanly joined, and that the edge lettering and reeding are crisp. Compare the portraits and lettering against trusted reference images, watching for soft or blurry detail, a misaligned center, or an incorrect weight, which can indicate a cast or altered fake.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell this from other 2 euro commemoratives?
Read the national side. This coin shows two female profiles with the legend DIREITOS LIBERDADES GARANTIAS and references the PSP's 150th anniversary and Portugal. The common EU side is shared by all 2 euro coins and cannot identify it alone.
What size and weight should it be?
Expect a bi-metallic coin about 25.75 mm in diameter and roughly 8.5 grams, with a silvery center in a gold-colored ring and a reeded, lettered edge. It should be non-magnetic.
Does the date matter?
Yes. This commemorative is dated 2018 for the 150th anniversary of the PSP. A different date with a similar design points to another coin, so confirm the year on the common side.
How can I spot a fake?
Check that it is non-magnetic, the two metals are cleanly bonded, and the edge lettering and reeding are sharp. Blurry detail, wrong weight, or a misaligned center are red flags for a counterfeit.