Museu do Papel Moeda

About the museum

The Museu do Papel Moeda (Paper Money Museum) belongs to the Fundação António Cupertino de Miranda (António Cupertino de Miranda Foundation) and arose from the collecting passion of Alberto Correia de Almeida, a board member of the foundation, who at the age of 18, in 1964, bought an old 20-escudo banknote. In 1981 the board approved his proposal to create a collection of fiduciary paper. Construction of the premises, at the foundation's headquarters, began in 1994, and the museum opened on 20 January 1996, in the presence of the then President of the Republic, Mário Soares.

In 2003 a second permanent exhibition room opened, “Dinheiro e Transportes” (Money and Transport), with more than 5,000 miniatures of cars, boats, trains and planes, gathered by the same collector from his childhood toys. The museum is part of the Portuguese Museum Network and occupies about 400 m² over three floors.

The paper money exhibition shows the economic, social and cultural evolution of Portugal from the 18th century to the present day, with the complete Portuguese issues of banknotes, bonds, shares, cheques, lottery tickets, stamped paper, bills of exchange and promissory notes. Among the pieces are the first paper money in the world, from China, a replica of the machine that printed the first banknote, and one of the pairs of notes from the Alves Reis fraud.

Highlights

• The most complete Portuguese collection of fiduciary documents
• All Portuguese banknote issues, including around thirty unique notes
• First paper money in the world, from China
• More than 5,000 miniatures of cars, boats, trains and planes
• Model of the Douro line on arrival at Pinhão

Permanent exhibitions

• Exposição do Papel Moeda – The development of paper money in Portugal from the 18th century to the present day, with banknotes, bonds, shares, cheques, lottery tickets, stamped paper, bills of exchange and promissory notes.
• Exposição Dinheiro e os Transportes – More than 5,000 miniatures of cars, boats, trains and planes, with a model of the Douro line on arrival at Pinhão.

Founded

1996

Operated by

Fundação António Cupertino de Miranda

Admission & discounts

Free admission for children under 6, people with special needs and holders of the Porto.Card.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Lift, ramps and toilets for people with reduced mobility. There are audio guides in Portuguese and English, video guides with Portuguese Sign Language, enlarged tactile notes, Braille guides and large-print guides.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

There is a family ticket and guided visits for families; the museum is the base for financial education projects for children and young people.

Getting there & parking

The foundation is opposite the Parque da Cidade, on Avenida da Boavista, and has its own car park.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant

The foundation's restaurant, next to the museum.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit