Recent online buzz and media reports have falsely claimed that the Banco de Portugal is issuing a special coin to celebrate Cristiano Ronaldo. However, for those eagerly searching for a “7 Euro Coin Portugal” dedicated to the football superstar, official sources have firmly dismissed these rumors.
The Banco de Portugal has released a public statement explicitly denying the fabrication and circulation of any collector or commemorative coin honoring Cristiano Ronaldo. According to the central bank’s press release, there are no plans to produce such a coin. They clarified that the Portuguese Mint and Official Printing Office, the sole authority for approving the annual coin and medal production program, has also publicly refuted the claims of a Ronaldo coin being issued.
These denials came in response to widespread online misinformation, including news articles and social media posts that gained considerable traction. These deceptive claims suggested that 25,000 units of a purported €7 coin were being released, priced at €7.50 each. Some versions of the rumour even wildly speculated that the coin’s value could skyrocket to €144,000 due to its supposed rarity, gold content, and, of course, Ronaldo’s global fame.
Many of these misleading posts and articles included a picture of the supposed coin. However, this image, widely circulated online, has been confirmed to be generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
AI-Generated Image of a Fake 7 Euro Coin Allegedly Featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Circulated Online as a Real Portuguese Commemorative Coin.
Closer inspection of the AI-generated image reveals a lack of the intricate detailing typically found on genuine currency. Furthermore, the characters depicted along the coin’s edges are largely nonsensical, a telltale sign of AI-generated imagery.
For those seeking factual information, both the official websites of the Banco de Portugal and the Portuguese Mint provide comprehensive lists of all collector and commemorative coins issued in the past year. Recent genuine releases include coins celebrating Portugal’s Olympic team, the Portuguese Skating Federation, and the nation’s participation in the Euro 2024 championship. Notably absent from these official listings is any mention of a Cristiano Ronaldo coin, a “7 euro coin portugal,” or anything similar.
Interestingly, false claims about a CR7 coin are not new. Similar rumours surfaced as far back as September, following Ronaldo’s 900th career goal in a Nations League match against Croatia. Fact-checking organizations debunked these earlier claims at the time, highlighting the persistent nature of this misinformation.
Despite the lack of a commemorative coin, Portugal has indeed honored Cristiano Ronaldo, recognizing his status as one of the country’s most iconic figures. Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport stands as a testament to his national significance, and statues of Ronaldo, widely celebrated as one of football’s greatest players, are prominent features in various locations across Madeira.
Portugal does have a history of issuing coins to commemorate notable individuals. For example, a €5 coin was released last year in honor of Luís de Camões, the 16th-century poet often considered Portugal’s equivalent to Shakespeare or Dante. While such official recognition exists for other national figures, a dedicated “7 euro coin portugal” for Cristiano Ronaldo remains, for now, only a popular, but unfounded, rumour.
