5 Cruzeiros Cruzeiro #76

Front

Pedro Álvares Cabral (c. 1467–c. 1520), Portuguese navigator and explorer who is credited with the discovery of Brazil in 1500 when he led the first Portuguese expedition to reach South America. He commanded a fleet of 13 ships that sailed from Portugal to India but deviated westward, landing on the Brazilian coast on April 22, 1500, claiming the territory for Portugal. This note honours his role as the European discoverer of Brazil.

Back

Allegorical scene titled 'Conquista do Amazonas' (Conquest of the Amazon), depicting the Portuguese colonial expansion into the Amazon region. The scene shows European explorers and missionaries, indigenous peoples, and the raising of flags symbolizing Portuguese sovereignty over the vast Amazonian territories of northern Brazil. This representation reflects the 19th-century romanticized view of colonization and territorial consolidation.

History

This note belongs to the Second Cruzeiro series (1942–1967), which replaced the Mil Réis at a rate of 1 Cruzeiro = 1000 Réis. The series was issued by the Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury) rather than the Banco Central, which was not established until 1964. The 5 Cruzeiros denomination features Pedro Álvares Cabral, linking Brazilian currency to its colonial Portuguese heritage. The 'ESTAMPA 2.A SÉRIE 1288A' overprint indicates this is a second printing run variant from the series code 1288A. These notes were demonetized in 1967 when the Cruzeiro was replaced by the Cruzeiro Novo at a rate of 1000:1 due to inflation. Printed by Thomas De La Rue in London, this issue exemplifies mid-20th century Brazilian currency design with elaborate guilloche patterns and historical-allegorical imagery.