Early Nickels, Beautiful Hues

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I have a couple, one of my nicer ones is as follows. I lived for 3 years in Sao Paulo, Brasil (Brazil in US language) and am a member of the national numismatic society.

Back in the 19th century, Brazil was seen as very similar to the USA but the country encountered problems around 1920 or so.

Their 200 reis coin was a .917 fine silver coin about the size of a US dime. Continued inflation would make new issues even smaller so in 1871 Brazil struck their "1st nickels": the large 200 reis being about the size of a half-dollar. It was struck from 1871 to 1900, then there was a smaller sized one introduced. It was like the US shield nickel, which replaced our silver half-dime, and there was a design change in 1886 and in 1889. The large 200 reis were discontinued in 1900.

We all have memories of US types thru the years and one of my favorites is going into local Philly coin shops and seeing plastic bins of US V-nickels, absolutely worn flat, selling for 20 cents apiece. Nice V-nickels (except for occasionally an 1883) were never seen and to this day, I never was able to buy one.

Similarly, at Sunday flea markets in center city Sao Paulo, Brasil (South America's largest city) you'll see dealers putting out these white plastic washing bins filled with the early nickel 200 reis: every one worn flat & many without dates. You could scour the entire flea market for any specimen in F or VF and be unsuccessful, except for possibly an 1871.

Thus whenever I have a chance for nice high grade Brazilian coins in nickel, I'm very interested. Here is an example of one I bought, showing nice toning, followed by the smaller silver 200 reis it replaced.


Brazil, Nickel 200 reis, uncirculated, 1876
It cost me more than hoped for but C'est la vie.


Brazil, .917 fine silver 200 reis which was discontinued, 1865 uncirculated