Museu do Dinheiro (Money Museum), Lisbon
The Museu do Dinheiro (Money Museum) is a recently restored museum at the corner of Praça do Município in central Lisbon.
The museum is housed in the former head office of the Banco de Portugal, which also incorporates the former Church of São Julião.
The museum is dedicated to the history and evolution of money in Portugal and the world as a whole. The complex also houses a section of King Dinis' Wall - an original remnant of the city's Medieval wall.
History
The Church of São Julião was heavily damaged during the 1755 earthquake and was moved during the redesign of the capital by Marquis of Pombal. The church was deconsecrated and acquired by the Bank of Portugal in the 1930's. After renovation work in the early 21st century, the bank reestablished its headquarters in the building and the Money Museum was established in the former church.
During the restoration project items dating back to the Roman period in Portugal, the Medieval period and the time of the earthquake were found and are now on show in the Muralha (King Dinis' Wall) section of the museum.
Exhibits
The museum is laid out over four floors. The basement floor holds the King Dinis' Wall and related exhibits (see below). The ground floor is the spacious atrium of the building with a 12.6 kg gold bar on display that visitors can touch.
Also on this floor is an interactive display entitled Hermes (the Greek god of trade and barter) who explains the direct exchange of goods as a form of money.
The first floor has displays of coins and bank notes from around the world in glass cases as well as video testimonials in Portuguese with English sub-titles as ordinary people discuss the role and importance of money in their lives. A highlight here is a replica of the first coin produced in the West in Lydia (present-day Turkey) in the 7th century BC. There's also a Chinese banknote from the 9th century AD.
The second floor has more displays of coins and bank notes including information on the Português - a gold coin minted during the reign of King Manuel I and the Age of Discovery.
Other historic coins on display including the only example of a Morabitino minted in the reign of King Sancho II (1209-1248), and the biggest and heaviest coin minted in Portugal the Dobra of 24 Escudos at 85 grams.
The top floor also has information on how money is produced and secured against forgery and a very interesting collection of bank notes from around the world.
King Dinis' Wall
After the 1755 Earthquake that devastated much of Lisbon the 13th century Medieval wall of King Dinis lay buried until the remnant on display today was uncovered.
As well as the segment of the original wall also on display are pieces of pottery from the Roman and Islamic periods, masonry fragments, coins, tiles and human skeletons.
Access - Getting There
Largo de São Julião
1100-150 Lisbon
Tel: 213 213 240
www: museudodinheiro.pt
Hours: 10 am - 6 pm; Wednesday - Sunday; closed on 1 January, 1 May, 24 and 25 December.
Free admission
The nearest Lisbon metro stations to the museum are Terreiro do Paço Station, Baixa-Chiado, Rossio or Cais do Sodre, just 10 minutes walk to the west.
Alternatively take the Lisbon tram number #28 or a Lisbon bus any of numbers: 728, 737, 735, 759, 794.
Nearby Attractions
Praça do Município has the buildings of the Appeals Court and Naval Arsenal as well as a branch of CTT - Portugal's post office. The whole square is covered with a beautiful calçada pavement.
The square is also home to Banana Cafe with outdoor seats, recommended Sangria and a Happy Hour. There is also a large underground Saba 24/7 car park here.
Several hotels are either in or near to Praça do Município. These include the five star AlmaLusa Baixa/Chiado housed in an historic 18th century building right in the square. The three star Hotel MeraPrime Gold Lisboa is also a short walk away.
Also within easy walking distance is The National Museum of Contemporary Art (Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea - Museu do Chiado).
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