revising brazilian gold bars

My article Brazilian Gold Bars was written before 1990,but its publication was delayed until 19962. In themeantime, new studies on the gold bars were released,which justify revising a few items. At that time, a listof all existing genuine bars was not complete, but weare now in a position to reproduce it.

A little more than 200 genuine bars survive today,which explains the reason of their extreme rarity.Besides their beauty, the fact that they were used asmoney adds numismatic value. Each bar, when handedto its owner, was accompanied by a certificate (guia),where were inscribed the quantities of gold brought tothe smelting house, the percentage taken by thePortuguese crown, the weight of the bar, its finenessand the name of the owner. Its circulating value in riswas then written on the upper right corner of the paper.

As stated in my article, Kurt Prober is the principalresearcher who studied these bars and in 1990 hepublished a new study on the subject3. In 1997,Sothebys issued a catalogue to sell 38 of these bars,which was a feat in itself, considering that this repre-sented about 18% of all existing bars4. This lavishcatalogue included photos and actual weight of eachbar, enabling to complete their perfect identification;the sale was canceled for unknown reasons, but all thebars reappeared in an article by a Portuguese collectorin the First Luso-Brasileiro Congress in 19995.

An interesting and unique bar is the model in copper,dated 1730, sent to their colony Brazil by thePortuguese authorities, to serve as a reference to the

smelting houses: weighing 1.122 grams and measu-ring 450 millimeters, it contains all the details and theroyal seal which were to be observed. It is today keptin the Casa da Moeda in Rio de Janeiro.

From 1601 until 1833 when the last one was closed,twenty smelting houses were opened; however the onlybars known today come from only eight of them:SABAR 84 bars, MATO GROSSO: 21, GOIS: 29,VILA RICA: 40, RIO DAS MORTES: 7, I.MPERIALCIDADE DO OURO PRETO ( EX Vila Rica since1823): 1, SERRO FRIO: 21, and CUYAB: 9. Total:212 bars. The list hereunder is based on Probers bookwith a few additions from other sources. As organizedby Prober, the bars are listed under odd numbers, lea-ving even numbers for future bars still to discover.

Then, of course, we have the counterfeits. 80 have beenidentified: 45 Sabar, 18 Rio das Mortes, 9 Serro Frioand 8 Vila Rica. How are they identified? Main signals:general aspect of the workmanship, small errors in thedesign of the Royal Arms, wrong use of Royal Armswhich changed according to the Portuguese rulers, andwrong use of the assayers initials; pedigrees also help todetect these counterfeits.

49 bars are in museums, 17 were stolen, one from pri-vate hands, the others from the Museu Histrico Nacional,in a robbery in July 1937 ( 17 were stolen and onlyone recuperated); probably those stolen bars weremelted. The rest of the 146 bars are today, presu-mably, in private hands, and thus, potentially on themarket sooner or later.

1465

Revising brazilian gold bars

ALAIN COSTILHES1 ()

1. Sociedade Numismtica Brasileira, So Paulo, Brasil. Died in SoPaulo, 20-11-2003.

2. Costilhes, A.: Brazilian Gold Bars, in Italiam fato profugi -NumismaticStudies Dedicated to Vladimir and Elvira Clain-Stefanell. Louvain-laNeuve, 1996, pp. 97-108.

3. Prober, K.: Ouro em P e em Barras - Meio Circulante no Brasil - 1754-1833 ( plus catalogue). Paquet, 1990.

4. Brazilian Gold Currency Bars. Sothebys, London, Friday 30 May1997.

5. Marques da Costa, C.: As Barras de Ouro do Brasil - SuaOrdenao em Catlogo, in I Congresso Luso-Brasileiro de Numismtica,Etapa So Paulo, Ita Numismtica, So Paulo, 2000. pp. 17-32.

ALAIN COSTILHES

1466

Number Prober

Smelting House

Date Bar

Number Actual Weight

Theoretical Weight

M: Museum P: Private

007 009 011 015 017 019 021 023 025 027 029 031 033 035 037 041 043 045 047 049 051 053 055 057 059 061 063 065 067 069 071 073 075 077 079 081 083 085 087 089 090 091 093 095 097 099 101 103 105 107 109

Sabar Mato Grosso Goyaz Sabar Sabar Rio das Mortes Vila Rica Vila Rica Vila Rica Rio das Mortes Sabar Vila Rica Rio das Mortes Sabar Vila Rica Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Vila Rica Sabar Sabar Sabar Vila Rica Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Serro Frio Serro Frio Vila Rica Vila Rica Vila Rica Sabar Sabar Sabar Serro Frio Serro Frio Vila Rica Vila Rica Vila Rica Goyaz Matto Grosso Sabar Serro Frio

1778 1784 1790 1792 1794 1796 1796 1796 1799 1800 1801 1802 1804 1804 1804 1805 1806 1807 1807 1807 1808 1808 1808 1808 1809 1809 1809 1809 1809 1809 1809 1809 1809 1809 1809 1809 1809 1809 1809 1810 1810 1810 1810 1810 1810 1810 1810 1811 1811 1811 1811

2111 699 953

1532 200

1149 208

3052 3265 2743 1752 2001 1324 1425 1532 301

2951 2778 3125 1908 530 949

2732 93 92

2842 3251 3558 3711 3757 5246 5698 6397 6400

86 4299 2977 3413 3826 634

1463 5756 415 983

2358 2642 2980 108 588 249 770

217.00 -

471.50 149.30

- 105.69 57.90

161.90 99.00 85.38 62.40 96.45 82.35 73.63

119.30 130.00 64.91 98.31 69.56 53.70 86.38 69.81

131.62 53.31 53.50 18.30 67.00 22.00 57.90

- 25.30 37.10

- 50.99

109.77 89.20

- 53.70

110.00 41.20 22.37 27.60 22.45

122.69 24.40

- 81.63

327.92 570.30

- 70.55

212.07 114.65 471.55 149.68 54.98

105.68 57.77

161.96 99.21 85.76 62.46 96.52 82.47 74.08

119.63 130.29 65.44 98.32 69.62 53.49 88.15 70.22

131.78 53.40 53.49 20.32 66.94 22.11 57.97 35.85 25.10 37.20 43.63 51.38

109.87 89.55 23.31 53.79

115.15 42.14 23.31 27.79 22.51

123.51 24.51 21.71 81.68

328.11 571.30 73.71 70.52

M: Sabar M: MHN P M: ANS P P P P M: BCB P M: MHN M: S.I. P P M: MHN P P P P P P P P P M: BCB M: BCB P M: MHN M: BCB P M: BCB M: MAS P P P ? Stolen from MHN P P M: BEB P P M: ANS P P P P P P P P P

Table I - Genuine existing bars

REVISING BRAZILIAN GOLD BARS

1467

Number Prober

Smelting House

Date Bar


Theoretical Weight


111 113 115 117 119 121 123 125 127 129 131 133 135 137 139 141 143 145 146 147 149 151 153 155 157 159 161 163 165 167 169 171 173 175 177 179 181 183 185 187 189 191 193 195 197 199 201 203 205 207 209 211 213 215 217 219 221

Serro Frio Vila Rica Vila Rica Vila Rica Vila Rica Mato Grosso Mato Grosso Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Serro Frio Vila Rica Vila Rica Goyaz Goyaz Mato Grosso Mato Grosso Mato Grosso Mato Grosso Mato Grosso Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Serro Frio Vila Rica Goias Goias Goias Goias Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Serro Frio Vila Rica Vila Rica Vila Rica Vila Rica Mato Grosso Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar

1811 1811 1811 1811 1811 1812 1812 1812 1812 1812 1812 1812 1812 1812 1812 1812 1813 1813 1813 1813 1813 1813 1813 1813 1813 1813 1813 1813 1813 1813 1813 1813 1813 1813 1814 1814 1814 1814 1814 1814 1814 1814 1814 1814 1814 1814 1814 1814 1814 1814 1814 1814 1815 1815 1815 1815 1815

772 121 998

2557 3164 154 754 79

317 1022 2388 2776 3515 365 531

2249 327 551 104 153 443

1053 1382 347

1426 1448 1752 1807 1916 2872 3523 3588 856

2723 136 181 292 920 174

1019 1177 1609 1672 1953 2033 2746 2885 166

1290 1413 1514 2297 241 39

386 678

1876

- 37.80

- -

21.00 305.00 611.90

- 26.05 19.10

110.30 25.00 23.70 59.00

- -

292.60 136.35

1,386.50 560.30 138.90

- 459.00 23.30 43.30

- - -

23.03 30.20

- 21.93 28.50

- -

53.20 111.17 44.23 29.27 27.45 27.22 36.30 25.06 47.60

- 21.88

- 114.87

- -

103.96 217.90

1,387.00 127.30 19.40 27.50

-

- 37.74 44.34

110.12 21.20

307.09 612.83 90.24 26.29 19.43

112.27 25.10 23.91 58.62 80.68 21.32

294.46 136.89

1,387.99 561.20 141.15 358.69 459.24 23.61 43.60 25.66 22.11 21.22 23.61 30.78 29.85 22.38 28.68 26.10 53.78 53.49

112.08 44.37 29.28 27.46 26.30 36.16 25.10 47.81 53.78 21.81 30.78

114.84 -

31.76 105.19 219.34

1,384.52 127.30 20.62 27.19 25.70

? P M: UBP P P M: MP USP M: BCB P M: MHN M: BCB ? Stolen from MHN P P M: BEB ?: Stolen from MHN P M: S.I. P P M: BCB M: BCB ?: Stolen from P P ?: Stolen from MHN P P P P P P P P ? Stolen from MHN P P P P P ? Stolen from MHN P ? Stolen from MHN P P ? Stolen from MHN P P P M: S.I. P P P M: ANS ?: Stolen from MHN M: BCB P P P

ALAIN COSTILHES

1468

Number Prober

Smelting House

Date Bar


Theoretical Weight


223 225 227 229 231 233 235 237 239 241 243 245 247 249 251 253 255 257 259 261 263 265 267 268 269 271 273 275 277 279 281 283 285 287 289 291 293 295 297 299 301 303 305 307 311 313 315 317 319 321 323 325 327 329 330 331 333 335

Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Vila Rica Vila Rica Vila Rica Vila Rica Vila Rica Vila Rica Goias Mato Grosso Mato Grosso Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Serro Frio Vila Rica Vila Rica Vila Rica Vila Rica Goias Goias Mato Grosso Mato Grosso Rio das Mortes Rio das Mortes Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Vila Rica Mato Grosso Mato Grosso Mato Grosso Rio das Mortes Rio das Mortes Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Sabar Serro Frio Serro Frio Serro Frio Vila Rica Vila Rica Vila Rica Vila Rica Vila Rica

1815 1815 1815 1815 1815 1815 1815 1815 1815 1815 1816 1816 1816 1816 1816 1816 1816 1816 1816 1816 1816 1817 1817 1817 1817 1817 1817 1817 1817 1817 1817 1817 1817 1817 1817 1817 1817 1817 1818 1818 1818 1818 1818 1818 1818 1818 1818 1818 1818 1818 1818 1818 1818 1818 1818 1818 1818 1818

2019 2135 2423 3074 167

1069 1470 2012 2135 2176 799 659 673

1635 2050 3032 2148 218 704 736 776

1398 608 761 196 679 41

424 146 687

1265 1392 1433 1552 1883 2267 2311 997 188 352 658 202 529 280 896 965 990

1098 1682 1933

37 239 359 173 536 641 661 729

20.91 23.00

- 102.90 85.05 24.89

- -

20.20 -

273.00 1,538.90 1,119.00

50.17 53.00

- 21.48 60.66 20.92

- 27.16

- - -

217.24 80.07 21.59 32.90 36.40 23.28 24.00 28.60 26.30

- 22.90 27.10 48.35

1,672.60 -

141.79 229.00 60.94 43.78

- 25.50

- -

26.97 33.54

298.09 22.88

192.52 114.40

- 26.33 54.00

- 250.00

20.92 23.01 75.90

103.36 85.46 25.10

119.23 52.79 20.32 37.45

273.62 1,533.87 1,118.80

50.50 53.16 21.51 21.51 60.17 21.12 23.81 27.18 37.35

374.03 42.44

218.34 80.31 21.71 33.31 36.44 23.31 24.31 28.60 26.30 20.92 23.01 27.20 48.11

1,674.63 139.95 141.94 229.30 60.96 43.92 20.32 25.40 21.22 21.81 27.20 33.77

296.98 22.91

192.45 115.34 191.84 26.50 53.99 36.45

249.42

P P P P P P P P M: BCB P ? Stolen from MHN M: Sabar P P M: Sabar P M: Sabar P P P P P P P P P M: S.I. M: BCB P P P P P P M: BCB M: BCB M: Sabar P P M: MHN ?: Stolen from MHN P P M: MAS P P P M: S.I. P P P ?: Stolen from MHN P P P P P

REVISING BRAZILIAN GOLD BARS

1469

Number Prober

Smelting House

Date Bar


Theoretical Weight


337 339 341 343 345 347 349 351 353 355 357 359 361 363 365 367 369 371 373 375 377 379 383 385 387 389 391 393 395 397 399 401 403 405 407 409 411 413 415 417 419 421 423 425 427

Goias Mato Grosso Sabar Sabar Goias Goias Mato Grosso Mato Grosso Mato Grosso Serro Frio Cuyab Cuyab Cuyab Cuyab Cuyab Cuyab Cuyab Goias Goias Goias Goias Goias Goias Goias Goias Goias Cuiab Cuiab Goias Goias Goias Goias Goias Goias Sabar Ouro Preto Serro Frio Serro Frio Serro Frio Serro Frio Sabar Serro Frio Serro Frio Serro Frio Sabar

1819 1819 1819 1819 1820 1820 1820 1820 1820 1820 1821 1821 1821 1821 1821 1821 1821 1821 1821 1821 1821 1821 1821 1821 1821 1821 1822 1822 1822 1822 1822 1822 1822 1823 1828 1828 1829 1830 1831 1831 1832 1832 1832 1832 1833

27 102 216 267 31

387 124 255 456 20

157 167 233 328 545 799 817

4 194 281 390 517 587 596 616 618 111 137 41

152 229 233 268 172 130 262 76 25 28 31

105 4

114 115 56

230.00 182.00 37.72

197.80 174.00 32.26

221.40 111.06 139.25 32.45

153.29 264.00 187.80 47.79

195.05 20.18

- 74.53

345.94 -

124.20 70.00 54.84

- 27.80 83.22

114.10 101.00 27.65 82.51

134.50 218.55 27.70 26.90

147.20 186.78 49.49

167.50 - -

62.10 103.77 40.30 36.70 90.40

230.69 181.54 37.36

197.81 175.51 32.42

222.78 111.16 139.33 32.37

154.19 264.56 187.81 47.81

196.33 20.92

114.66 75.30

347.24 27.04

125.46 70.38 55.44 40.92 28.10 84.17

114.61 101.45 27.94 83.07

136.76 221.28 27.94 26.99

148.78 186.77 49.41

167.69 83.67 55.08 64.24

103.70 39.74 36.55 90.52

P ?: Stolen from MHN P P P P M: BCB P P P P ?: Stolen from MHN P P P P P P P M: MHN M: MAS M: M.P. USP P P M: BCB P M: BCB P ?: Stolen from MHN P ?: Stolen from MHN P P P M: MHN P P M: ANS P P M: MHN P P P P

SABAR: Museu do Ouro, SabarMHN: Museu Histrico Nacional, Rio de JaneiroANS: American Numismatic Society, New YorkBCB: Banco Central do Brasil, BrasliaS.I.: Smithsonian Institute, WashingtonMAS: Museu de Arte Sacra, So PauloBEB: Banco Econmico da Bahia, SalvadorUBP: Unio de Bancos Portugueses, PortoMP USP: Museu Paulista, Universidade de So Paulo

revising brazilian gold bars

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