Brazil (1870) 200 reis balastraca

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Heritage sale 3009, lot 20588
image courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries

This silver 200 réis was cut from a Spanish silver four reales de vellon originally minted in Seville about 1812. It was an emergency issue used during the War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70), wherein Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay defeated Paraguay but not before half the male population of Paraguay had been killed. The specimen was lot 20588 in Heritage sale 3009 (Chicago, April 2010), where it sold for $977.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Pedro II 'Balastraca' of 200 Reis, nice VF. Balastracas were irregular pieces cut from mainly Peruvian and Bolivian coins during the Paraguayan war."

Recorded mintage: unknown but scarce.

Specification: 25.5 g, 0.917 fine silver, .751 troy oz ASW.

Catalog reference: KM Unlisted, Russo 667.

Source:

  • Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
  • Pimentel, Alvaro Mendes, Catálogo de Moedas Brasileiras de 1643 a 1962, 9a Ed., Rio de Janeiro, 1962.
  • Amato, Claudio, and Irlei S. Neves, Livro das Moedas do Brasil, 14a ed. Sao Paulo, 2015.
  • [1]Tucker, Warren, and Scott Cordry, Heritage Signature Auction 3009: World Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2010.

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