Brazil 1827-R 20 reis
This specimen was lot 958 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 39 (Winter Park, FL, May 2026), where it sold for $3,120. The catalog description[1] noted, "BRAZIL, Rio, copper 20 reis, Pedro I, 1827-R, NGC MS 63 BN, finest known in NGC census. Colorful patchy toning over luster, very choice grade for this series (the next finest and only other example in the NGC census being just AU 53), with the look of a presentation piece along with the previous two lots." 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: 4,648,267.
Specification: 7.17 g, copper, 30 mm diameter, this specimen 4.48 grams.
Catalog reference: LMB-583; KM-360.1.
- Amato, Claudio, Irlei S. Neves and Arnaldo Russo, Livro das Moedas do Brasil, 12a ed. Sao Paulo, 2008.
- 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.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Auction 39, 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, 2026.
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