Brazil 1823-R 80 reis

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This specimen was struck at the Rio mint in Brazil in 1823. 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 1824-31, Sao Paulo 1825-29, Cuiaba 1826-30, Goias 1828-31 and Rio 1823-31. 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: 100,000 (slightly scarce date).

Specification: copper.

Catalog reference: KM 366.1 (without countermark), KM 444.1 (with countermark).

Source:

• 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.

Link to:

• 1821-B silver 80 réis
• 1822-R LXXX réis
• 1823-R 20 réis
• 1823-R 40 réis
• 1823-G 75 réis
• 1823-R 960 réis
• 1823-R 4000 réis
• 1823-R 6,400 réis
• 1828-SP 80 réis
• Coins and currency dated 1823
• return to coins of Brazil