...Brazil - 500 Cruzeiros 1972 Commemorative 150th Year of Independence 1822-1972

República Federativa do Brasil

(Federative Republic of Brazil)

Banco Central do Brasil

(Central Bank of Brazil, Est.1964)

Currency - Cruzeiro (1970-1981)

I have been trying to get this commemorative note for my collection for quite a while until now. Previously when I found one, it's either the asking price was very high or the condition was not what I was hoping for. I finally found one at one of the local small Sunday show/meet and I bought this note without hesitation. I have no idea if this was a good buy or simply just goodbye ($).

 

This is a 500 cruzeiros commemorative note first released in 1972 to celebrate Brazil's 150th year of Independence from Portugal. There are two main series for this issue (Series A and B) and in all, there are at least 5 varieties. The note that I have posted below is the 5th variety and was the last print for this series. As this is one of the 5 varieties, it is unlikely that I will go and hunt for the remaining four notes, as this can be a bit costly and not to mention that it might be hard to find in uncirculated condition too.

 

Portugal first claimed Brazil in April 1500 and controlled the colony directly from Lisbon in Portugal. In 1808, the capital of Brazil was then transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro. In 1815, it became a kingdom when the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves was formed. Independence was achieved in 1822 when the Empire of Brazil was established.

 

Five Hundred Cruzeiros

 

Front - Faces of five Brazilian different ethnicities, from L-R, a man facing left, and then with each face turning approximately 11+ degrees to the left and eventually the last one facing the front. I have no idea what ethnicity these five people are from. It appears that they are all males. To the far left are the values of 500, with two sets of 500s printed upside down. This note that I have is from the Series B with the prefix of B02002. The prefix range for this series is ranging from A00091 to B032563.

 

Signatures 

Presidente (Conselho Monetario) - Ername Galveas 

Presidente (Banco Central) - Carlos Geraldo Langoni

Watermarks - Year Date of 1822-1972 (150 years of independence)

Dimensions - 173mm x 78mm

Back - On the back, it depicts five maps of Brazil, showing different eras, from R-L: - 

Map of Descobrimento (Discovery) - showing the eastern side of the country;

Map of Comercio (Trade) - showing natives felling trees and manufacturing goods and a ship from Portugal sailing toward the coast of Brazil;

Map of Colonizacao (Colonisation) - showing vast land area invaded by the Portuguese;

Map of Independencia (Independence) - showing the map of Brazil with boundaries of all states that made up the country; and

Map of Integracao (Integration) - showing (presumably) progress and developments with imaginative seven highways connecting the whole country.