Brazil 1823-R 20 reis

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This specimen was struck at the Rio mint for Brazil in 1823-30. The minting of copper twenty réis began in 1693 and continued sporadically thru the eighteenth century. Issues became larger and more frequent after 1810, when the size was reduced to that of the old ten réis. Large numbers were minted until 1832, well after independence. Counterfeits are numerous, particularly of the Bahia issues, which were cruder than Rio issues. Another twenty réis (KM 436.1) exists which was countermarked in 1835 from an imperial forty réis (KM 363.1).

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: 1,700,000.

Specification: copper, 7.17 g.

Catalog reference: KM 360.1.

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.

Link to:

• 1822-R colonial 20 réis
• 1823-R 40 réis
• 1823-G 75 réis
• 1823-R 80 réis
• 1823-R 960 réis
• 1823-R 4000 réis
• 1823-R 6,400 réis
• 1824-R 20 réis
• Coins and currency dated 1823