Cristiano Ronaldo on a Commemorative Coin from Portugal? Controversy Surrounds an AI Fake
by Sebastian Wieschowski
A purported special edition coin honouring the world-famous football icon is making headlines. However, it’s unlikely that Ronaldo and his peers will ever appear in your change – and there are compelling reasons for this.
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One Click – and the fantasy coin is ready. This is how ChatGPT’s graphic engine ‘Dalle’ envisions a €2 coin honouring „a famous Football player“. Photo: ChatGPT / Dalle / Wieschowski
When young boys eagerly pester their parents about a new collector’s coin, and experts online are already quoting prices of up to 150,000 US dollars, it seems like a golden moment for numismatics may be on the horizon.
Cristiano Ronaldo, widely regarded as one of the greatest and most decorated football players in history, was reportedly set to be honoured on an official commemorative coin from Portugal – at least, that’s what several national and international media outlets have claimed in recent days. The buzz surrounding the so-called “CR7” coin (named after the football legend’s initials and iconic jersey number) has now reached Germany, with many football fans wondering when and where they can purchase the coin.
When and Where to Buy a CR7 Coin? Never. And Nowhere.
The “Banco de Portugal,” the central bank of Ronaldo’s home country, has raised the alarm – a point it illustrates unmistakably on its website with a red siren. In an official statement, the bank clarifies:
“The Bank of Portugal has become aware of false reports on foreign websites regarding the issuance of a €7.50 collector’s coin in honour of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo by the Bank of Portugal. In this regard, it is necessary to state clearly that the Bank of Portugal has not issued, nor does it intend to issue, any collector’s or commemorative coin referencing the mentioned individual.”
Red Alert: The Portuguese National Bank issued a denial with dramatic visual design. Photo: Banco de Portugal.
The National Bank further clarified that the approval of the annual coin minting plan falls under the jurisdiction of the Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda, the country’s state mint. According to the mint, there are no plans to feature Cristiano Ronaldo on a commemorative coin.
Digital Newspaper Hoax Was Created Months Ago
Both the National Bank and the mint have expressed considerable surprise at the sudden media hype surrounding the supposed footballer coin. Back in September 2024, an online sports portal that describes itself as a “leading internet magazine for the business and politics of football” reported on the alleged decision to mint the CR7 coin. The article claimed that Ronaldo, who had just become the first person in human history to surpass one billion followers, was deemed worthy of having his face featured on a commemorative coin (in October 2024, Ronaldo had more than one billion followers on the platforms Instagram, Facebook, Twitter – now X – and YouTube, as well as on the Chinese social media channels Weibo and Kuaishou).
Experienced Numismatists Recognise the Fake Immediately
The sports magazine published two photos of the alleged coin’s obverse and reverse, which experienced numismatists would have found suspicious right away: both sides featured the footballer’s face, with no indication of the issuing country or a denomination in euros. The number “7” was visible, but this is not a standard denomination in Portugal. Commemorative coins minted in large quantities typically have a face value of €7.50. Additionally, Portugal has never issued official copper coins with an antique finish. In short, the images are a product of AI-generated fantasy.
Once revered, now controversial: In 2012, France honoured the “Priest of the Poor”, Abbé Pierre, who in 2024 faced extensive allegations of sexual misconduct. Photo: Wieschowski.
For state mints such as the Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda, an unwritten rule has long been observed: living public figures are not depicted on official coins. The risk is simply too great that negative news about such individuals could emerge after the coins are issued. Imagine, for instance, receiving a coin featuring an alleged sex offender at the supermarket checkout. In Europe, this scenario is not far-fetched. France issued a €2 coin in 2012, marking the 100th birthday of Abbé Pierre, who had died only five years earlier, with a mintage of one million coins. By the summer of 2024, serious allegations against the “Priest of the Poor” had come to light.
Famous Football Player as a Collector’s Item? That Can Be Expensive!
Moreover, most celebrities and public figures keep a vigilant eye on their intellectual property rights and demand substantial fees for their use—and it’s unlikely that the management of “CR7” would view a coin featuring their client as a charitable project. In 2016, a billionaire from Singapore secured Ronaldo’s image rights for six years. The trademark “CR7” was registered by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2017, covering a range of products including those made with gemstones, pearls, and precious metals.
The operators of the major AI platforms are now also aware of the copyright trap – ChatGPT, for example, refuses to design a €2 coin in honour of Christiano Ronaldo “because it would violate the guidelines to depict real people without the appropriate permission.”
When Andorra featured Boris Becker on a commemorative coin in 1987 to celebrate the inclusion of tennis in the 1988 Olympic Games, infidelity scandals and bankruptcy proceedings were not yet on the horizon for the German tennis player. Photo: Wieschowski.
That said, the notion of a commemorative coin honouring Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t entirely far-fetched – living athletes, in particular, have frequently been featured on such coins in the past. For instance, in 1987, the island nation of Niue issued four collector coins for the Seoul Olympics, all showcasing Boris Becker. Similarly, the European microstate of Andorra issued an official, legal-tender tennis-themed coin featuring Boris Becker. Between 1987 and 1989, no fewer than 16 commemorative coins were minted depicting Steffi Graf.
A worthy ambassador of Switzerland: Roger Federer was honoured on commemorative coins in 2020. Photo: Swissmint.
The most recent example of a commemorative coin honouring a living sports legend comes from Switzerland. In 2020, the country celebrated former Swiss tennis player Roger Federer with a 20-franc commemorative coin. In a press release, Swissmint referred to Federer as “arguably the most significant Swiss individual athlete and the perfect ambassador for Switzerland.” The reasons cited for the honour included “his sporting achievements, social engagement, naturalness, and humility.” Anyone who secured the Roger Federer coin back then has enjoyed a considerable increase in value.
Swissmint’s success with the depiction of a national sports hero on an official commemorative coin therefore makes it clear that there is a great demand for numismatic sports memorabilia – and at a time when pop culture tokens are increasingly becoming part of modern numismatics (who would have thought that David Bowie or Elton John would ever appear on coins from the time-honoured Royal Mint? ), even an unwritten law such as the taboo of living personalities on coins could be increasingly questioned – whereby those responsible in the mints would then have to live with the permanent danger that the heroes of today will one day misbehave.
