The Rupublic of Brazil has created quite a few "interesting", if not "desirable", coins during the 20th century. Most of these were made before the first Reform Coinage in 1932. One that interests me is the decision to use a medal rotation for all coins minted in the years 1936, '37 and '38 except for the 1938 denominations honoring Dr. Getulio Vargas. 1936-1938 100 Reis www.worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img8/27-536&desc=Brazil%20km536%20100%20Reis%20(1936-1938) Another of interest is the decision to use medallic rotations on all 1932 denominations except on KM#520, the 1932 400 reis pieces. 1932 100 Reis www.worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img8/27-527&desc=Brazil%20km527%20100%20Reis%20(1932)%20Cazique%20Tibirica Another interesting bit of numismatic history is the decision to mint copper-nickel 20 Reis coins for the years 1918, '19 and '20 with a dot between 2 & 0 in the denomination number on the reverse AND, at the same time, strike copper-nickel 20 Reis coins for years 1919-1935 without the dot between the 2 & 0. Still another wonder is the miniscule striking of 100 coins for circulation in 1935 of 20 Reis and 50 Reis denominations. Then there's the 18-sided 400 Reis (KM#545), the 20-sided 300 Reis (KM#546), the 22-sided 400 Reis (KM#547), and the 24-sided 2,000 Reis (KM#542 & 548). KM#545 www.worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img8/27-545&desc=Brazil%20km545%20200%20Reis%20(1938-1942) KM#546 http://www.worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img8/27-546&desc=Brazil%20km546%20300%20Reis%20(1938-1942) Still another consideration is why were 646,000 pattern 1914 copper-nickel 400 Reis coins struck. And what about the 1922 500 Reis error coins (KM#521.2) and the 1,000 Reis (KM#522.2) with BRASIL spelled BBASIL? Does the fact that in 1922 there were 1,500,000 silver 2,000 Reis coins struck with part of them in .900 fineness and part in .500 fineness raise your curiosity? Please note, Brazil did not produce proof coinage in the 20th century until the Second Reform Coin year 1970. (Cruziero KM#591) Though Brazil never struck proof sets, the following coins were struck in proof:: www.worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img8/27-591&desc=Brazil%20km591%205%20Cruzeiros%20(1980-1984) KM#582 1972 Cruizero with lettered edge www.worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img8/27-582&desc=Brazil%20km582%201%20Cruzeiro%20(1972)%20Anniv.%20of%20Indep. KM#582 1972 Cruizero plain edge (error) KM#616 1989 200 Novos Cruzados www.worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img14/27-616&desc=Brazil%20km616%20200%20Novos%20Cruzados%20(1989)%20Centennial%20of%20Republic KM#621 1991 500 Cruzieros (struck only in proof)) KM#622 1992 2,000 Cruzieros (Hummingbird and Flower) KM#651 1999 50 Centavos (Edge lettering, "BRASIL ORDEM E PROGRESSO") KM#637 1994 2 Reals (Only in Proof) (First Brazilian Mint) KM#643 1995 2 Reals (Proof Only) (Race Driver) KM#640 ND 3 Reals (Central Bank) (Proof Only) KM#645 ND 3 Reals (Belo Horizonte) (Proof Only) KM#638 1994 4 Reals (Soccer) (Proof Only) KM#654 2000 5 Reals (Discovery of Brazil) (Proof Only) KM#639 1994 20 Reals (Soccer) (Proof Only) KM#644 1995 20 Reals (Race Ddriver) (Proof Only) KM#655 2000 20 Reals (Discovery of Brazil) (Proof Only) That's 16 different for all of the 20th century. If some dealer is offering any other 20th century Brazil coin as a proof, beware! Now we come to the yellow issues. The ratio of copper to nickel in the following denominations was changed. This resulted in two different shades of yellow. Light yellow: KM#544 1942 100 Reis www.worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img8/27-544&desc=Brazil%20km544%20100%20Reis%20(1938-1942) KM#545 1942 200 Reis www.worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img8/27-545&desc=Brazil%20km545%20200%20Reis%20(1938-1942) KM#546 1942 300 Reis www.worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img8/27-546&desc=Brazil%20km546%20300%20Reis%20(1938-1942) KM#547 1942 400 Reis www.worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img8/27-547&desc=Brazil%20km547%20400%20Reis%20(1938-1942) KM#555 1942 & 1943 10 Centavos www.worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img8/27-555&desc=Brazil%20km555%2010%20Centavos%20(1942-1943) KM#556 1942 & '43 20 Centavos www.worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img8/27-556&desc=Brazil%20km556%2020%20Centavos%20(1942-1943) KM#557 1942 & '43 50 Centavos www.worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img8/27-556&desc=Brazil%20km556%2020%20Centavos%20(1942-1943) Deep yellow: KM#555a.1 1943, 1944 and 1945 10 Centavos. KM#555a.2 1944, '45, '46, and '47 10 Centavos KM#556a 1943, '44, '45, 46, '47 and '48 20 Centavos www.worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img8/27-556a&desc=Brazil%20km556a%2020%20Centavos%20(1943-1948) KM#557a 1943, '44, '45, '46, and 47 50 Centavos http://www.worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img8/27-557a&desc=Brazil%20km557a%2050%20Centavos%20(1943-1947) The following restrikes occurred during the second Coin Reform period (1967-1985). 134,298,000 stainless steel 2 Centavos coins dated 1969 were struck through 1974 (KM#576.2) 345,071,000 stainless steel 5 Centavos coins dated 1969 were struck through 1974 (KM#577.2) www.worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img8/27-577_2&desc=Brazil%20km577.2%205%20Centavos%20(1968-1976) 134,070,000 copper-nickel 10 Centavos coins dated 1970 were struck through 1974 (KM#578.2) http://www.worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img8/27-578_2&desc=Brazil%20km578.2%2010%20Centavos%20(1967,1970)%20copper%20nickel 384,894,000 copper-nickel 20 Centavos coins dated 1970 were struck through 1974 (KM#579.2) 48,940,000 nickel Cruzeiro coins dated 1970 were struck through 1972 (KM#581) You "Pattern" collectors can have a exciting time browsing and looking for one, or more, of the 389 different "Patterns" produced for Brazil. Piedfort collectors will enjoy the fact that 38 Povas were struck. In 1948 one "Trial Strike" of a 1,000 uniface Cruiezeros was made. Clinker
Clinker: Thanks again, one question: You say: One that interests me is the decision to use a medal rotation for all coins minted in the years 1936, '37 and '38 except for the 1938 denominations honoring Dr. Getulio Vargas. 1936-1938 100 Reis Another of interest is the decision to use medallic rotations on all 1932 denominations except on KM#520, the 1932 400 reis pieces. 1932 100 Reis Was this a deliberate decision? Does anyone know why they did this? Very interesting. The Other Frank
You should see the Bimetalics they are just like the Euro LOL but then again a lot of countries are going that route De Orc :kewl:
Treashunt That's what is interesting to me. Was it a mandate by the government or was it a decision by the Director of Mints or was it a new employee not knowing a coin is supposed to have a different reverse rotation than a medal? If anyone does know, let us know.
