Brazil 1956 50 centavos KM-566

from the Mountain Groan Collection

In 1942, during the presidency of Getulio Vargas, the réis was dropped as a unit of currency after 400 years and the cruzeiro adopted. To mark the occasion, all new coins were released with the ten, twenty and fifty centavos featuring the bust of Vargas. The fifty centavos of 1948-56 (KM 563) was aluminum bronze but was switched to aluminum for 1957-61. This transitional type, with a simplified design and reduced weight, was struck 1956 only. It has little collector value except in Uncirculated. The cruzeiro itself survived only until 1967, the victim of uncontrolled inflation.

Recorded mintage: unknown but common.

Specification: 3 g, aluminum bronze, 17.04 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM 566.

Source:

• Amato, Claudio, and Irlei S. Neves, Livro das Moedas do Brasil, 14a ed. Sao Paulo, 2015.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• Pimentel, Alvaro Mendes, Catálogo de Moedas Brasileiras de 1643 a 1962, 9a Ed., Rio de Janeiro, 1962.

Link to:

• 1955 20 centavos
• 1955 50 centavos
• 1956 20 centavos
• 1956 cruzeiro, reduced weight
• 1957 50 centavos, aluminum
• 1957 cruzeiro
• Coins and currency dated 1956
• return to coins of Brazil