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Last year, Luiz Fernando Galvao added some interesting proofs
to his collection which, when we found out about them, we decided to
look into the matter. Let's do it then.
In 1935, the Vargas administration sent a design to Waterlow
& Sons, Ltd. of a 200 cruzeiro note which showed, on the
obverse, a portrait of Soror Angelica and reverse the Convent of San
Francisco. The essay clearly designates the responsibility of
the National treasury to redeem the notes. It is well to
remember that during the Washington Luis administration a proof 100
cruzeiro note was made (1927/28).
At the same time as that request, WLS, by request of the
economics staff, also prepared other proofs with the bust of Getulio
Vargas, in 5, 10, and 20 mil-reis. On the reverse were
pictured scenes representing our economy: agricultural
roduction, railway and aeronautical development respectively.
The interesting aspect of the notes was that printed on them were
the words BANCO CENTRAL Do BRASIL, probably the origin of the
present Banco Central do Brasil.
Two other surprises: essay of notes of 500 mil-reis and 5
contos de reis(!), both stating that the National Treasury was the
redeeming agency. The first showed on the reverse a view of
Rio de Janeiro and the second a panorama of the Falls of
Iguazu. Pretty and mysterious notes, which unfortunately for
collectors, remain only as essays.
It appears, actually, that the economics staff of the Varas
administration did not know what they wanted; they introduced the
cruzeiro type, continued with the mil reis as new notes of high
denomination, created the Banco Central de Reserve as ...
The investigation of the inscription is challenging.
Source: Boletim, Soc. Fil. e Numis, de Joao
Pessoa, No. 58, Ano XV, 1999.
Courtesy: Jose P. de Siqueira,
Jr.
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