Catalog
500 Reis
| Issuer | Tesouro do Estado de Alagoas |
|---|---|
| Year | 1895 |
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| Shape | Rectangular |
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| Obverse description | The obverse is printed in red-orange and blue-green on white paper, with the central area dominated by a large guilloche underprint. At upper left, the arms of the Estado de Alagoas appear within a vignette, accompanied by the inscription THESOURO / ESTADO DE ALAGOAS. The denomination 500 REIS is repeated at upper left and lower left in bold letterpress. A prominent manuscript signature appears across the lower central portion, and a blue stamped serial number is positioned centrally. Along the bottom margin, a row of dated coupon tabs runs the full width of the note, inscribed COUPON with years ranging from 1896 to 1905 and indicating 30 REIS each. The upper border bears a repeating denomination legend, and SERIE A appears at upper right. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse is printed entirely in red-orange on white paper. A central oval vignette presents a portrait of a young woman with curled hair and a floral ornament, set against a radiating background. The inscription ESTADO DE ALAGOAS arches across the top, while 500 and REIS flank the central vignette on either side. A scrolled ribbon banner below the vignette bears the legislative authority inscription LEI N.o 111 de 5 de Agosto de 1895. Corner ornaments with floral motifs frame the design, and a sequential number panel runs along the bottom edge. |
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| Comments |
The Tesouro do Estado de Alagoas was one of several Brazilian state treasuries authorized to issue their own paper currency following the proclamation of the Republic in 1889, when fiscal decentralization briefly allowed individual states to print notes alongside the federal government. Alagoas was among the smaller and less economically powerful states to exercise this right, making its emissions uncommon in any surviving form.
The 500 Réis denomination was the lowest practical unit of state paper in this period — essentially small change in paper form, used for everyday transactions in a region where metallic coin circulation was chronically thin. Low-denomination state notes like this suffered heavy attrition through use.