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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Gallienus, post: 8252409, member: 42034&quot;]I have a couple, one of my nicer ones is as follows.&nbsp; I lived for 3 years in Sao Paulo, Brasil (Brazil in US language) and am a member of the national numismatic society.</p><p><br /></p><p>Back in the 19th century, Brazil was seen as very similar to the USA but the country encountered problems around 1920 or so.</p><p><br /></p><p>Their 200 reis coin was a .917 fine silver coin about the size of a US dime.&nbsp; Continued inflation would make new issues even smaller so in 1871 Brazil struck their &quot;1st nickels&quot;: 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.&nbsp; 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.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.&nbsp; Nice V-nickels (except for occasionally an 1883) were never seen and to this day, I never was able to buy one.</p><p><br /></p><p>Similarly, at Sunday flea markets in center city Sao Paulo, Brasil (South America&#039;s largest city) you&#039;ll see dealers putting out these white plastic washing bins filled with the early nickel 200 reis: every one worn flat &amp; 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.</p><p><br /></p><p>Thus whenever I have a chance for nice high grade Brazilian coins in nickel, I&#039;m very interested.&nbsp;&nbsp; Here is an example of one I bought, showing nice toning, followed by the smaller silver 200 reis it replaced.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1454180[/ATTACH] </p><p>Brazil, Nickel 200 reis, uncirculated, 1876</p><p>&nbsp; It cost me more than hoped for but C&#039;est la vie.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1454182[/ATTACH] </p><p>Brazil, .917 fine silver 200 reis which was discontinued, 1865 uncirculated[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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