The escudo (Portuguese: 'shield') is a unit of currency historically used in Portugal and its colonies in South America, Asia, and Africa. It was originally worth 16 silver . The Cape Verdean escudo and the former Portuguese escudo (PTE), each subdivided into 100 , are named after the historical currency. Its symbol is the , a letter S with two vertical bars superimposed used between the units and the subdivision (for example, ). Other currencies named "escudo" Circulating Cape Verdean escudo Obsolete Angolan escudo Chilean escudo French écu Mozambican escudo Portuguese escudo Portuguese Guinean escudo Portuguese Indian escudo Portuguese Timorese escudo São Tomé and Príncipe escudo Spanish escudo References External links Escudo – Encyclopædia Britannica Denominations (currency)