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Obverse of 1775 Brazilian 20 Reis
Obverse of 1775 Brazilian 20 Reis

Reverse of 1775 Brazilian 20 Reis
Reverse of 1775 Brazilian 20 Reis

A Brief History of Brazil

Colonisation
In 1500, Admiral Pedro Alvares Cabral discovered and claimed Brazil for Portugal. Portugal then established a settlement in Brazil in 1532. Portugal proclaimed the area a royal colony in 1549. The climate was well-suited to sugar production, and this soon became the most important industry in the new colony. As sugar production was at that time very profitable but extremely labour intensive, African slaves were imported in large quantities to work under harsh conditions to supply Europe’s insatiable appetite for sugar. During the 17th Century, large reserves of mineral wealth were discovered in Brazil’s interior, and this encouraged immigration as settlers (mainly from Portugal) to come and seek their fortunes.

Relocation of the Portugese Court
In 1808, The Portugese Royal Family, headed by Prince Joao (regent on behalf of his mentally-ill mother Maria I) fled Napoleon’s troops and sailed to Rio de Janeiro. Brazil was thus made the temporary core nation of the entire Portugese Empire, and Rio de Janeiro remained the capital of the Portugese Empire until 1821, long after Napoleon’s defeat. King Joao VI (as he then became known) then returned to Portugal, leaving his son and heir Prince Pedro behind to act as his regent. Portugese attempts to reduce Brazil to the status of a colony again (rather than an nation equal to Portugal as it had been since 1815) caused nationalist discontent, and Pedro joined with the nationalist side, declaring Brazil to be independent and himself to be its first Emperor as Pedro I of Brazil.

Empire of Brazil
The independence war lasted until 1824, when the last remaining Portugese and loyalist troops surrendered. British pressure eventually forced Joao IV to recognise Brazilian independence. Pedro I faced internal rebellion and a war against Argentina over the Cisalpine region in the south, both of which he fought successfully. However, divisions between liberals, absolutists and republicans remained, and the Emperor struggled to juggle the demands and aspirations of all sides.
In 1826, Joao VI died and Pedro I also became Pedro IV of Portugal. However, he felt unable to head both countries, especially given the political turmoil that existed in both countries and so after attempting to draft a new constitution for Portugal, he abdicated soon afterwards as King of Portugal in favour of his 7 year old daughter, Maria II. Pedro’s younger brother Miguel, with the support of absolutists, usurped Maria’s throne in 1828. In 1831, Pedro abdicated in favour of his son Pedro II, sailed for Europe and fought a successful campaign against his brother to reinstall his daughter to the Portuguese throne. He died soon after in 1834.

Pedro II
Pedro II was only 5 when he assumed the Brazilian throne, and so Brazil was governed by a regency in the first few years of his reign. However, this regency was weak, and the situation in the outlying provinces was one of anarchy until the emperor was mature enough to take charge of the situation in the 1850s. Pedro II led Brazil through a golden age of advancing economic prosperity and industrial progress. However, his open opposition to issues such as slavery alienated the traditionally pro-monarchist ultraconservatives, and by 1889 the Emperor, by now old, unenthusiastic and lacking male heirs, seemed unconcerned when he was ousted in a military coup that year, departing quietly into exile, where he died two years later.

Republic
In 1889 the Federal republic was established.
In 1946 the Federative republic was established by means of a constitution drawn up by an assembly. 1964 saw a military coup in Brazil, where armed forces retained overall control under a dictatorship. Civilian government was restored in 1985, when Jose Sarney was elected as president. . The current constitution came into play in 1988.

Brazilian Coins
Brazil’s original currency was the Reis, based on the old Portuguese currency that circulated in Brazil at the time of its independence. Inflation eventually took its toll until it was replaced in 1942 with the Cruzeiro. Banana republican economic policies saw this currency reformed no less than 7 times throughout the 20 century until the introduction of the Real in 1994, which is the currency of Brazil today. Coins of the first series, lasting from 1994-1998 saw coins of 1, 5, 25 and 50 centavos struck in stainless steel. From 1998, a new series featuring a and 5 centavos in copper-plated steel, 10 and 25 centavos in brass plated steel a cupronickel 50 centavos and a bimetallic 1 real coin have been issued. Production of the 1 centavo coin ceased in 2006. The Centavo coins typically feature a Brazilian national hero on the reverse, whilst the 1 real coin features a female genius representing the Republic.

For Sale and Wanted
If you are interested in coins from Brazil please see our product index:-
Brazilian Coins

Gold Coins
We also have gold coins from Brazil on our taxfreegold website:-
Brazilian Gold Coins



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