HUMOR - THE ORIGIN OF THE CR$ SYMBOL
Posted: October, 2000
by Apparicio Torelli, Baron Itarere
The introduction of the cruzeiro as the national currency
instead of the mil-reis is not an old idea. This happened during the
Second World War during the Vargas administration. All went
smoothly. Monetary reform had been thought about already during the
Washington Luis administration, and the change-of-currency decree
was just about to be signed. One detail remained: what abbreviation
of "Cruzeiro" would be used by the businessmen?"
Financial technicians met with the Minister of the Treasury,
the Director of the Treasury, the President of the Bank of Brazil
and the Chief of the Mint.
After two hours of strenuous and heated discussion, it was
decided that, since we were engaged in a war of great Historical
consequence, nothing more fitting could be done than to pay homage
to our allies - England, the united States and Russia.
It was therefore unanimously resolved that the abbreviation of
the cruzeiro would consist of the initials of the three "big men" of
the moment, Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin: CRS
The high commision of technicians went before Mr. Getulio
Vargas to notify him of the results. He agreed with everything; very
satisfied, but, at the moment he was going to sign the decree
introducing the new currency, his pen slipped on the initials of
Stalin. The abbreviation appeared and continues to appear
CR$.
(Almanaques, Rio de Janeiro, 1949 from SETE, 25, 1996)
Source: Boletim, Soc. Fil. e Numis, de Joao Pessoa, No.
58, Ano XV, 1999.
Courtesy: Jose P. de Siqueira,
Jr.
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