Brazil 1821-B 80 reis

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This specimen was struck at the Bahia mint in Brazil in 1821. The minting of copper eighty réis began in 1811 and continued until 1833, well after independence. The eighty réis was the same size as that of the old forty réis. This type was struck at Bahia 1820-23 and Rio 1818-22. Large numbers were minted until 1832, well after independence. 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: unknown but common.

Specification: copper.

Catalog reference: KM 342.1.

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.
• Alberto Gomes and Francisco Antonio Magro, Moedas Portuguesas e do Território Que Hoje é Portugal: Catálogo das Moedas Cunhadas para o Continentes e Ilhas Adjacentes, para os Territórios do Ultramar e Grão-Mestres Portugueses da Ordem de Malta, 6ª Edição, Lisbon: Associação Numismática de Portugal, 2013.

Link to:

• 1820-B 80 réis
• 1821-M 37½ réis
• 1821-R 80 réis copper
• 1821-B silver 80 réis
• 1821-B 160 réis
• 1821-B 640 réis
• 1821-R 640 réis
• 1821-B 960 réis
• 1821-R 960 réis
• 1830-R 80 réis
• Coins and currency dated 1821
• return to coins of Brazil