Imperial Brazilian Silver Coins Repurposed as Countermarked Commemorative Medals

This week's featured numismatic treasures from our June Collectors Choice online (CCO) auction are coins that were repurposed into commemorativemedals and ingots. The numismatic and philatelic communities were very active in Brazil during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s and issued the first fromthis commemorative series for the numismatic exposition of 15 December 1937. It would be 12 years before the next commemorative, designed by Prof.Jorge G. Jessess, would be issued for the first SANPEX convention in December 1949. One hundred pieces were countermarked 101-200 with certificatesof authenticity, plus 16 that were not numbered and two with the letter "P", but no certificate, for a total of 118 pieces. The popularity of thisseries from its inception ensured that it quickly sold out. In fact the second issue was so popular that they created another medal for the sameevent, but of a different design and host coin. The second emission was quite different, although also quite popular. It was mailed to potentialbuyers for a price of 960 Reals (approximately $244) instead of being sold at the convention. The second emission displays a fish shaped indent withthe word "SANPEX" in the center in the right field behind the bust and a number 1-100 stamped below the bust of an 1886-89 2,000 Reis. An additional15 pieces were stamped with numbers that fell out of the sequence and an added letter "B" so as to not be confused with the original mintage. Inaddition each piece from this emission was accompanied with a certificate of authenticity, nearly all of which have been lost.

Brazil "SANPEX" 2,000 Reis # 22 NGC-MS61, Countermark UNC Standard.

The 1950s saw a significant increase of these issues for various events from 1950-57 such as the 400th anniversary of the founding of Sao Pauloand the SANPEX II convention, which were both issued in January 1955. These were designed by Roberto A.G.P Dessart and manufactured by Mr. FranciscoMontini of Sao Paulo. They were produced in a similar fashion to the Mato Grosso (1818), Cuiaba (1820) and Minas Gerais (1801-10) issues which usebi-facial countermarks and have designs on both the obverse and reverse. The Historical and Geographical Institute of Sao Paulo arranged for theproduction of the 400th anniversary commemoratives to be sold at the Philatelic exhibition that took place January 6-15, 1955. It had a total mintageof 300 coins plus an additional 28 pieces. The SANPEX II convention that took place January 26-31, 1955, had an issuance of only 90 pieces.

Brazil "400th Anniversary of the founding of Sao Paulo" 960 Reis NGC-AU58, Countermark UNC Standard on an 1815-R 960 Reis

Brazil "SANPEX II A" 960 Reis NGC-AU58, Countermark UNC Standard on an 1814-R 960 Reis

Brazil has a long history of countermarking coins for various reasons, mostly to circumvent specie shortages, but in the case of thesecommemoratives it is more for nostalgia than anything else. The mintage figures and availability of these issues create a short series produced formore than a decade. The series is very collector friendly and easy to complete with a little patience.

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