Brazil (1870) 400 reis
The first specimen was lot 21060 in Heritage sale 61526 (Dallas, TX, July 2025), where it sold for $1,020. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Brazil: A Problem-Free Balastraca. Pedro II Counterstamped "Balastraca" of 400 Reis ND (1864-1870) F12 PCGS. Counterstamp: Incuse "400" (XF Details) on Spain Ferdinand VII 1832 2 Reales S-JB. A scarce and seldom-seen issue from Brazil's largest military conflict. A scarce issue, made during the Triple Alliance War (Paraguay War), during periods of siege and scarcity of coinage. In his 1908 "Catálogo da Collecção Numismática Brasileira", Augusto de Souza Lobo wrote that the Balastracas had ample circulation in the Brazilian southern provinces, one Balastraca being worth 400 Reis (the value of a Spanish Peseta, or a colonial 2 Reales; in this case, a 4 Reales "De Vellón", which weighed the same as the former). The complete coins were stamped 400 Reis, coins cut in 1/2 received the 200 Reis stamp and the 1/4's were stamped 100 Reis. He added that the reeded edges come from being fractioned with chisels, leading to cut pieces with very irregular weights."
The second specimen was lot 98198 in Heritage sale 61270 (Dallas, TX, May 2022), where it sold for $480. The catalog description noted, "Brazil, Pedro II Counterstamped "Balastraca" of 400 Reis ND (1864-1870) XF, KM-B471, cf. LMB-671, cf. Bentes-603.01 (different stamp), Pratt-Unl. Host: Spanish Joseph Napoleon 4 Reales "De Vellón" 1811 in VF condition (cf. KM540.1); Counterstamp: Incuse "400". Livro das Moedas do Brasil only lists the punch with a non-incuse 400 Reis in an inner rectangle, the example offered being more similar to the 100 and 200 Reis incuse stamps listed by the authors." The third specimen was lot 857 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 38 (Winter Park, FL, November 2025), where it sold for $1,320. The catalog description[2] noted,
"BRAZIL, War of the Triple Alliance, 400 reis "balastraca," countermark "400" inside incuse rectangle (1864-70) on a Madrid, Spain, bust 2 reales, Charles IV, assayer MF (date not visible), rare. Bold AU countermark in center of very well-worn bust, the reverse better but the host overall Poor, still rare and desirable as an issue from Brazil's largest military conflict."
These 400 réis were stamped on Spanish silver coins. 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. Spanish two reales or four reales de vellon circulated widely in Latin America. They looked and weighed like Spanish American two reales but were lower purity silver.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: host coin 6.77 g, 0.833 fine silver. The third specimen is 5.21 grams.
Catalog reference: KM-B471, LMB-671.
- 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]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2025 July 13 Spotlight: Brazil World Coins Showcase Auction #61526, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2025.
- [2]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Auction 38, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Jorge Ugaz Collection of Lima Silver Cob 2 Reales and the Darby Collection of Guatemala Silver Cobs, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2025.
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