Obverse: The Portuguese coat of arms at the top and a map of the South African coast with a palm tree to the right, a line representing sea travel, and a sailing ship to the right. Around the left, the country and the year ⟳ REPUBLICA PORTUGUESA • 1998 • (Portuguese Republic 1998) below and the face value ⤻ 200 ESC (200 Escudos).
Reverse: Map of South Africa to the left with the inscription AFRICA and below NATAL (Christmas), in Portuguese because Vasco da Gama landed there on December 25, 1497. Also to the left is a stone column with a cross, erected in Mossel Bay. A line along the coast marks the route where a boat sailed northeast. On the right is a native man with a bow and arrow. On the left is the mintmark ⤷ INCM and following it is the name of the engraver ⤷ A. MARINHO (António Marinho). On the right is the theme ⤴ TERRA DO NATAL • 25 DEZ. 1497 (Christmas Land December 25, 1497).
