Brazilian real

Monetary history and catalogue of the historical real

The first coins circulated in Brazil after the Portuguese arrived in 1500. This began the long period of the colonial real, initially closely linked to Portuguese coinage and, in some regions, accompanied by local and colonial issues.

The real and réis system developed in colonial Brazil through measures and coinage from different periods. Even after the Portuguese court moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1808 and independence in 1822, réis remained the basis of Brazilian coinage.

The historical real was replaced by the cruzeiro only in 1942. After several twentieth-century monetary reforms, the name real was reintroduced in 1994 for the modern currency used today.

This page distinguishes the historical Brazilian real, used until 1942, from the modern real introduced in 1994.

Sources: BCB: succession of currencies · BCB: coin catalogue.

Historical real — Maria I

640 Réis
Silver
1799–1805
Historical real — Maria I
Brazil — 640 Réis — Silver — 1799–1805 — Historical real — Maria I — obverse
Brazil — 640 Réis — Silver — 1799–1805 — Historical real — Maria I — reverse
Types and links in this group

Historical real — João, Prince Regent

4.000 Réis6.400 Réis640 Réis320 Réis
GoldGoldSilverSilver
1805–18171805–18171806–18081809–1817
Historical real — João, Prince RegentHistorical real — João, Prince RegentHistorical real — João, Prince RegentHistorical real — João, Prince Regent
Brazil — 4.000 Réis — Gold — 1805–1817 — Historical real — João, Prince Regent — obverseBrazil — 6.400 Réis — Gold — 1805–1817 — Historical real — João, Prince Regent — obverseBrazil — 640 Réis — Silver — 1806–1808 — Historical real — João, Prince Regent — obverseBrazil — 320 Réis — Silver — 1809–1817 — Historical real — João, Prince Regent — obverse
Brazil — 4.000 Réis — Gold — 1805–1817 — Historical real — João, Prince Regent — reverseBrazil — 6.400 Réis — Gold — 1805–1817 — Historical real — João, Prince Regent — reverseBrazil — 640 Réis — Silver — 1806–1808 — Historical real — João, Prince Regent — reverseBrazil — 320 Réis — Silver — 1809–1817 — Historical real — João, Prince Regent — reverse
Types and links in this group
640 Réis80 Réis160 Réis960 Réis
SilverSilverSilverSilver
1809–18161810–18161810–18151810–1818
Historical real — João, Prince RegentHistorical real — João, Prince RegentHistorical real — João, Prince RegentHistorical real — João, Prince Regent
Brazil — 640 Réis — Silver — 1809–1816 — Historical real — João, Prince Regent — obverseBrazil — 80 Réis — Silver — 1810–1816 — Historical real — João, Prince Regent — obverseBrazil — 160 Réis — Silver — 1810–1815 — Historical real — João, Prince Regent — obverseBrazil — 960 Réis — Silver — 1810–1818 — Historical real — João, Prince Regent — obverse
Brazil — 640 Réis — Silver — 1809–1816 — Historical real — João, Prince Regent — reverseBrazil — 80 Réis — Silver — 1810–1816 — Historical real — João, Prince Regent — reverseBrazil — 160 Réis — Silver — 1810–1815 — Historical real — João, Prince Regent — reverseBrazil — 960 Réis — Silver — 1810–1818 — Historical real — João, Prince Regent — reverse
Types and links in this group
960 Réis4.000 Réis
SilverGold
18161816
Historical real — João, Prince RegentHistorical real — João, Prince Regent
Brazil — 960 Réis — Silver — 1816 — Historical real — João, Prince Regent — obverse
Brazil — 960 Réis — Silver — 1816 — Historical real — João, Prince Regent — reverse
Types and links in this group

Historical real — João VI

80 Réis160 Réis320 Réis640 Réis
SilverSilverSilverSilver
1818–18211818–18211818–18211818–1822
Historical real — João VIHistorical real — João VIHistorical real — João VIHistorical real — João VI
Brazil — 80 Réis — Silver — 1818–1821 — Historical real — João VI — obverseBrazil — 160 Réis — Silver — 1818–1821 — Historical real — João VI — obverseBrazil — 320 Réis — Silver — 1818–1821 — Historical real — João VI — obverseBrazil — 640 Réis — Silver — 1818–1822 — Historical real — João VI — obverse
Brazil — 80 Réis — Silver — 1818–1821 — Historical real — João VI — reverseBrazil — 160 Réis — Silver — 1818–1821 — Historical real — João VI — reverseBrazil — 320 Réis — Silver — 1818–1821 — Historical real — João VI — reverseBrazil — 640 Réis — Silver — 1818–1822 — Historical real — João VI — reverse
Types and links in this group
960 Réis4.000 Réis6.400 Réis
SilverGoldGold
1818–18221818–18221818–1822
Historical real — João VIHistorical real — João VIHistorical real — João VI
Brazil — 960 Réis — Silver — 1818–1822 — Historical real — João VI — obverseBrazil — 4.000 Réis — Gold — 1818–1822 — Historical real — João VI — obverse
Brazil — 960 Réis — Silver — 1818–1822 — Historical real — João VI — reverseBrazil — 4.000 Réis — Gold — 1818–1822 — Historical real — João VI — reverse
Types and links in this group

Historical real — Pedro I

640 Réis960 Réis4.000 Réis6.400 Réis
SilverSilverGoldGold
1823–18271823–18271823–18281823–1830
Historical real — Pedro IHistorical real — Pedro IHistorical real — Pedro IHistorical real — Pedro I
Brazil — 640 Réis — Silver — 1823–1827 — Historical real — Pedro I — obverseBrazil — 960 Réis — Silver — 1823–1827 — Historical real — Pedro I — obverseBrazil — 6.400 Réis — Gold — 1823–1830 — Historical real — Pedro I — obverse
Brazil — 640 Réis — Silver — 1823–1827 — Historical real — Pedro I — reverseBrazil — 960 Réis — Silver — 1823–1827 — Historical real — Pedro I — reverseBrazil — 6.400 Réis — Gold — 1823–1830 — Historical real — Pedro I — reverse
Types and links in this group
80 Réis160 Réis320 Réis
SilverSilverSilver
1824–18261824–18261824–1830
Historical real — Pedro IHistorical real — Pedro IHistorical real — Pedro I
Brazil — 80 Réis — Silver — 1824–1826 — Historical real — Pedro I — obverseBrazil — 160 Réis — Silver — 1824–1826 — Historical real — Pedro I — obverse
Brazil — 80 Réis — Silver — 1824–1826 — Historical real — Pedro I — reverseBrazil — 160 Réis — Silver — 1824–1826 — Historical real — Pedro I — reverse
Types and links in this group

Historical real — Pedro II

960 Réis4.000 Réis6.400 Réis80 Réis
SilverGoldGoldSilver
1832–18341832–18331832–18331833
Historical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro II
Brazil — 960 Réis — Silver — 1832–1834 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 6.400 Réis — Gold — 1832–1833 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 80 Réis — Silver — 1833 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverse
Brazil — 960 Réis — Silver — 1832–1834 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 6.400 Réis — Gold — 1832–1833 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 80 Réis — Silver — 1833 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverse
Types and links in this group
160 Réis10.000 Réis100 Réis400 Réis
SilverGoldSilverSilver
18331833–18401834–18481834–1848
Historical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro II
Brazil — 160 Réis — Silver — 1833 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 10.000 Réis — Gold — 1833–1840 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 100 Réis — Silver — 1834–1848 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 400 Réis — Silver — 1834–1848 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverse
Brazil — 160 Réis — Silver — 1833 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 10.000 Réis — Gold — 1833–1840 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 100 Réis — Silver — 1834–1848 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 400 Réis — Silver — 1834–1848 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverse
Types and links in this group
1.200 Réis200 Réis800 Réis10.000 Réis
SilverSilverSilverGold
1834–18471835–18481835–18461841–1848
Historical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro II
Brazil — 1.200 Réis — Silver — 1834–1847 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 200 Réis — Silver — 1835–1848 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 800 Réis — Silver — 1835–1846 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverse
Brazil — 1.200 Réis — Silver — 1834–1847 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 200 Réis — Silver — 1835–1848 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 800 Réis — Silver — 1835–1846 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverse
Types and links in this group
500 Réis1.000 Réis10.000 Réis20.000 Réis
SilverSilverGoldGold
1848–18521849–18521849–18511849–1851
Historical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro II
Brazil — 500 Réis — Silver — 1848–1852 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 1.000 Réis — Silver — 1849–1852 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 10.000 Réis — Gold — 1849–1851 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 20.000 Réis — Gold — 1849–1851 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverse
Brazil — 500 Réis — Silver — 1848–1852 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 1.000 Réis — Silver — 1849–1852 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 10.000 Réis — Gold — 1849–1851 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 20.000 Réis — Gold — 1849–1851 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverse
Types and links in this group
2.000 Réis20.000 Réis500 Réis1.000 Réis
SilverGoldSilverSilver
1851–18521851–18521853–18671853–1866
Historical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro II
Brazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1851–1852 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 20.000 Réis — Gold — 1851–1852 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 500 Réis — Silver — 1853–1867 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 1.000 Réis — Silver — 1853–1866 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverse
Brazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1851–1852 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 20.000 Réis — Gold — 1851–1852 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 500 Réis — Silver — 1853–1867 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 1.000 Réis — Silver — 1853–1866 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverse
Types and links in this group
2.000 Réis10.000 Réis20.000 Réis200 Réis
SilverGoldGoldSilver
1853–18671853–18891853–18891854–1867
Historical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro II
Brazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1853–1867 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 10.000 Réis — Gold — 1853–1889 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 20.000 Réis — Gold — 1853–1889 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 200 Réis — Silver — 1854–1867 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverse
Brazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1853–1867 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 10.000 Réis — Gold — 1853–1889 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 20.000 Réis — Gold — 1853–1889 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 200 Réis — Silver — 1854–1867 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverse
Types and links in this group
5.000 Réis200 Réis500 Réis2.000 Réis
GoldSilverSilverSilver
1854–18591867–18691867–18681868–1869
Historical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro II
Brazil — 5.000 Réis — Gold — 1854–1859 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 500 Réis — Silver — 1867–1868 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1868–1869 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverse
Brazil — 5.000 Réis — Gold — 1854–1859 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 500 Réis — Silver — 1867–1868 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1868–1869 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverse
Types and links in this group
1.000 Réis2.000 Réis500 Réis1.000 Réis
SilverSilverSilverSilver
18691875–18761876–18891876–1889
Historical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro IIHistorical real — Pedro II
Brazil — 1.000 Réis — Silver — 1869 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1875–1876 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 500 Réis — Silver — 1876–1889 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverseBrazil — 1.000 Réis — Silver — 1876–1889 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverse
Brazil — 1.000 Réis — Silver — 1869 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1875–1876 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 500 Réis — Silver — 1876–1889 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverseBrazil — 1.000 Réis — Silver — 1876–1889 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverse
Types and links in this group
2.000 Réis
Silver
1886–1889
Historical real — Pedro II
Brazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1886–1889 — Historical real — Pedro II — obverse
Brazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1886–1889 — Historical real — Pedro II — reverse
Types and links in this group

Historical real — Republic

500 Réis1.000 Réis10.000 Réis20.000 Réis
SilverSilverGoldGold
188918891889–19221889–1922
Historical real — RepublicHistorical real — RepublicHistorical real — RepublicHistorical real — Republic
Brazil — 500 Réis — Silver — 1889 — Historical real — Republic — obverseBrazil — 1.000 Réis — Silver — 1889 — Historical real — Republic — obverseBrazil — 10.000 Réis — Gold — 1889–1922 — Historical real — Republic — obverseBrazil — 20.000 Réis — Gold — 1889–1922 — Historical real — Republic — obverse
Brazil — 500 Réis — Silver — 1889 — Historical real — Republic — reverseBrazil — 1.000 Réis — Silver — 1889 — Historical real — Republic — reverseBrazil — 10.000 Réis — Gold — 1889–1922 — Historical real — Republic — reverseBrazil — 20.000 Réis — Gold — 1889–1922 — Historical real — Republic — reverse
Types and links in this group
2.000 Réis400 Réis1.000 Réis2.000 Réis
SilverSilverSilverSilver
1891–1897190019001900
Historical real — RepublicHistorical real — RepublicHistorical real — RepublicHistorical real — Republic
Brazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1891–1897 — Historical real — Republic — obverseBrazil — 400 Réis — Silver — 1900 — Historical real — Republic — obverseBrazil — 1.000 Réis — Silver — 1900 — Historical real — Republic — obverseBrazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1900 — Historical real — Republic — obverse
Brazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1891–1897 — Historical real — Republic — reverseBrazil — 400 Réis — Silver — 1900 — Historical real — Republic — reverseBrazil — 1.000 Réis — Silver — 1900 — Historical real — Republic — reverseBrazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1900 — Historical real — Republic — reverse
Types and links in this group
4.000 Réis500 Réis1.000 Réis2.000 Réis
SilverSilverSilverSilver
19001906–19121906–19121906–1912
Historical real — RepublicHistorical real — RepublicHistorical real — RepublicHistorical real — Republic
Brazil — 4.000 Réis — Silver — 1900 — Historical real — Republic — obverseBrazil — 500 Réis — Silver — 1906–1912 — Historical real — Republic — obverseBrazil — 1.000 Réis — Silver — 1906–1912 — Historical real — Republic — obverseBrazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1906–1912 — Historical real — Republic — obverse
Brazil — 4.000 Réis — Silver — 1900 — Historical real — Republic — reverseBrazil — 500 Réis — Silver — 1906–1912 — Historical real — Republic — reverseBrazil — 1.000 Réis — Silver — 1906–1912 — Historical real — Republic — reverseBrazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1906–1912 — Historical real — Republic — reverse
Types and links in this group
500 Réis1.000 Réis2.000 Réis500 Réis
SilverSilverSilverSilver
19121912–19131912–19131913
Historical real — RepublicHistorical real — RepublicHistorical real — RepublicHistorical real — Republic
Brazil — 1.000 Réis — Silver — 1912–1913 — Historical real — Republic — obverseBrazil — 500 Réis — Silver — 1913 — Historical real — Republic — obverse
Brazil — 1.000 Réis — Silver — 1912–1913 — Historical real — Republic — reverseBrazil — 500 Réis — Silver — 1913 — Historical real — Republic — reverse
Types and links in this group
1.000 Réis2.000 Réis2.000 Réis2.000 Réis
SilverSilverSilverSilver
1913191319221922
Historical real — RepublicHistorical real — RepublicHistorical real — RepublicHistorical real — Republic
Brazil — 1.000 Réis — Silver — 1913 — Historical real — Republic — obverseBrazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1913 — Historical real — Republic — obverse
Brazil — 1.000 Réis — Silver — 1913 — Historical real — Republic — reverseBrazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1913 — Historical real — Republic — reverse
Types and links in this group
2.000 Réis2.000 Réis2.000 Réis5.000 Réis
SilverSilverSilverSilver
1924–1934193219351936–1938
Historical real — RepublicHistorical real — RepublicHistorical real — RepublicHistorical real — Republic
Brazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1924–1934 — Historical real — Republic — obverseBrazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1932 — Historical real — Republic — obverseBrazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1935 — Historical real — Republic — obverseBrazil — 5.000 Réis — Silver — 1936–1938 — Historical real — Republic — obverse
Brazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1924–1934 — Historical real — Republic — reverseBrazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1932 — Historical real — Republic — reverseBrazil — 2.000 Réis — Silver — 1935 — Historical real — Republic — reverseBrazil — 5.000 Réis — Silver — 1936–1938 — Historical real — Republic — reverse
Types and links in this group

The catalogue includes regular and commemorative circulation issues documented in the sources. Patterns and collector-only issues are excluded. Comparison of the oldest series and countermarks is still in progress.