Brazil Currency





Brasil Money and Brazil Currency

Since 1994, the Brazilian currency has been the Real, which is pronounced, hay-AHL; and in its plural form, Reais, pronounced - hay-eyes. The symbol for the currency of Brazil is BRL or R$.

One real is made up of one hundred centavos - cents. There are currently two different sets of coins in circulation. In 1994, a set of coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 centavos and R$1 -(one real), followed by a second series of coins in 1998. This latter series are 1 and 5 centavos, 10, 25 and 50 centavos, - with a further R$1 coin from 2002.

While both series of coins are valid, the government has plans to eventually remove the first series from circulation. This started back in December 2003, when the first series of R$1 (real) coin started to be withdrawn.

Owing to their relatively low value, the Brazilian Central Bank has also discontinue production of the 1 centavo coins, although they still remain valid. Brazilian traders will simply round up prices to 5 centavo increments.

Coins are very similar in appearance and it can be difficult to tell them apart unless you pay careful attention. Essentially, there are two different types of coins; one type are all of silver and the other consist of copper, bronze, silver and silver/gold. The denomination for these are as follows:


  • R$0.01 coin - copper (discontinued)
  • R$0.05 coin - copper
  • R$0.10 coin - bronze
  • R$0.25 coin - bronze
  • R$0.50 coin - silver
  • R$1 (1 real)- coin, silver with brass border




    Brasil banknote money

    From 1994 to 2002, banknotes were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 reais, followed by 2 reais in 2001 and 20 reais respectively, in 2002.

    In January, 2006, Brazil Central Bank discontinued production of Brazil currencies of the 1 real banknote, although this currency will remain valid up to 2025. The R$1 coin is therefore the only remaining option for this denomination.

    Although Brazil money in note form are all of the same size, they are of different colours to help you distinguish between them. These are in the amounts of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 reais. Brasil currency in notes are as follows:


  • R$1   - green (discontinued)
  • R$2   - blue
  • R$5   - purple
  • R$10 - red (and a special edition blue)
  • R$20 - yellow
  • R$50 - orange
  • $100 - blue


    You may come across the R$10 Brazil currency note in both red and in blue, with the red Brazil money being the newest form. The blue version was printed in 2000 to mark the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the arrival of the Portuguese explorer, Pedro Alvares Cabral in Brasil. These blue notes are no longer being printed and are slowly coming out of circulation, however, they still remain legal tender as the Brazil banks replace them with the red notes.




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