Brazil 1827-B 20 reis
This specimen was lot 741 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 28 (Winter Park, FL, November 2020), where it sold for $600. The catalog description[1] noted, "Brazil (Bahia mint), copper 20 reis, Pedro I, 1827-B, NGC MS63 BN, finest and only example in NGC census. Key date struck in about 10% of the quantity of the other dates in the series, this example being the finest on record with bold details against smooth, chocolate-brown surfaces with a hint of copper color and luster, dark spot at 3 o'clock on obverse, crude rims (as made)." The minting of copper twenty réis began in 1693 and continued until 1832, well after independence. The twenty réis was the same size as that of the old ten réis. The genuine type was struck at Bahia 1825-30 and Rio 1823-30. Counterfeits are numerous, particularly of the Bahia issues, which were cruder than Rio issues.
By the 1830's, so many had been issued that the public began to refuse them. In 1835, the government called them in and countermarked them to half their former value to increase their acceptance. Private and counterfeit countermarks also exist, making this series confusing but fascinating to collect.
Recorded mintage: 44,000.
Specification: copper, 2 oitavos (7.17 g).
Catalog reference: Russo-634; KM-360.2.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- 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, Irlei S. Neves and Arnaldo Russo, Livro das Moedas do Brasil, 12a ed. Sao Paulo, 2008.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia and Cori Sedwick Downing, Treasure Auction 28, featuring the Dr. Peter Jones and John O'Brien collections, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2020.
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