1 cruzeiro 1954

Common. Market data demonstrates consistent, modest valuations with numerous eBay sales ranging from $0.50 to $26 USD depending on grade, with most ungraded UNC examples selling for $1-$5 and PMG-graded examples in the $10-$26 range. The note was printed in substantial quantities (series 1001-1800 documented) and remains readily available in the collector market. No print run restrictions, recalls, or supply scarcity factors are documented. This Pick number represents a standard regular issue with no recognized rarity premium.

Issued by the Tesouro Nacional during Brazil's post-war economic reconstruction period, this 1954 note commemorates Marquês de Tamandaré, Brazil's preeminent naval officer and military hero of the 19th century. The reverse features the Naval School in Rio de Janeiro, reflecting the importance of naval education and maritime identity in mid-20th century Brazilian national consciousness. This issue period falls within the broader Cruzeiro currency era (1942-1967), representing a transitional phase in Brazilian monetary history following World War II.

The obverse features a formal oval-framed portrait of Marquês de Tamandaré (Joaquim Marques Lisboa, 1807-1897), Brazilian naval commander and national hero, depicted as an elderly gentleman with distinctive white hair and full beard, wearing his dress military uniform with decorative medals and insignia. The portrait is surrounded by ornate decorative borders in blue and tan/beige tones with elaborate scrollwork, floral patterns, and guilloché designs. Large numeral '1' appears in decorative shield frames in all four corners. The reverse displays an architectural engraving of the Escola Naval (Naval School) in Rio de Janeiro, a substantial multi-story fortress-like building situated on the waterfront, rendered in monochromatic blue tones. Both sides incorporate the coat of arms/national emblem and maintain consistent corner shield designs containing the denomination numeral.

FRONT: 'República dos Estados Unidos do Brasil' (Republic of the United States of Brazil) - 'Se Pagará ao Portador' (Will be paid to bearer) - 'Desta Quantia de' (Of this amount of) - 'Aro Tesouro Nacional' (National Treasury) - 'Um Cruzeiro' (One Cruzeiro) - 'Valor Recebido' (Value Received) - 'Marquês de Tamandaré' (Marquis of Tamandaré) - 'Diretor Caixa de Amortização' (Director Amortization Fund) - 'Ministro da Fazenda' (Minister of Finance) - 'American Bank Note Company' - Series and serial number inscriptions. BACK: 'República dos Estados Unidos do Brasil' (Republic of the United States of Brazil) - 'Escola Naval' (Naval School) - 'American Bank Note Company'.

Intaglio engraving combined with color offset lithography, executed by the American Bank Note Company of New York. The note demonstrates advanced security printing techniques typical of ABNC's work, including fine-line engraved background patterns, complex guilloché designs, intricate border work, and multi-color printing. The sharp detail and security features visible in the pressed paper indicate professional security printing with anti-counterfeiting measures standard for high-security currency of the period.

This specimen is cataloged as Pick P-150a per the provided catalog data. The variant structure indicates multiple Pick designations exist for this 1 Cruzeiro 1954 issue (PMG records document P-150d). Key observable variety elements for this note include: two printed signatures (Diretor Caixa de Amortização and Ministro da Fazenda positions), series number 12814, serial number 048233, and ABNC printer attribution. Series numbers 1001-1800 are documented for this issue. The specific variety designation (P-150a vs. other variants) would depend on signature combinations, series ranges, or overprint differences not fully visible in this analysis, though the 'a' designation typically indicates an earlier or base variety within the Pick classification system.