50 Cruzeiros Thesouro Nacional, 2nd print, 'Valor Legal'

Brazil's paper currency in the early 1960s was under severe strain — chronic inflation and fiscal deficits meant that notes were reprinted repeatedly as demand outstripped supply. The 'Valor Legal' overprint on this second printing was a formal legal-tender designation required under Brazilian monetary regulations, distinguishing Treasury-issued notes from those bearing Banco do Brasil authority.

Thomas De La Rue's London production is consistent with Brazil's long reliance on foreign security printers during this period, a practical concession to the limited domestic intaglio capacity available at the Casa da Moeda.