5 cruzeiros 1961
Market Prices
15 salesAbout This Note
This is a Brazilian 5 Cruzeiros note from 1961, issued by the Tesouro Nacional and printed by Casa da Moeda do Brasil. The note is graded UNC and displays the characteristic brown and sepia color palette typical of this denomination, featuring a vignette of an Indian with surveying equipment on the obverse and the iconic Victoria Regia water lily on the reverse. The note exhibits excellent preservation with crisp printing, clear fine-line engraving, and no significant wear, making it an attractive example of Brazilian mid-20th century currency design.
Common. eBay market data shows consistent sales in the $1.76–$3.25 range for UNC examples over more than a decade (2013–2023), with catalog values listed at $2 for UNC condition as of 2019. The relatively high circulation of examples, modest price points, and steady availability indicate this is a standard regular-issue banknote with substantial print runs. No print run restrictions, recalls, or production anomalies are documented for Pick 166a.
Issued during the presidency of Jânio Quadros (1961), this note represents a period of transition in Brazilian currency and economic policy. The choice of imagery—an indigenous figure with surveying/mapping instruments and the Amazon's Victoria Regia water lily—reflects Brazil's emphasis on territorial expansion, modernization, and the development of its vast interior regions during the early 1960s.
The obverse features a portrait of an indigenous Amazonian figure in profile facing right, depicted with ethnographic accuracy. To the left is a secondary vignette showing an Indian engaged in surveying or cartographic work with landscape elements, symbolizing exploration and development of Brazil's interior. The reverse showcases the Victoria Regia (Victoria amazonica), the world's largest water lily species native to the Amazon basin, rendered in a detailed botanical illustration style against a water landscape. Both sides feature ornate circular emblems with the denomination '5' positioned in all four corners, and a geometric border pattern with fine-line engraving typical of high-quality currency production of the era. The overall design emphasizes Brazil's natural resources and indigenous heritage.
FRONT: 'REPÚBLICA DOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DO BRASIL' (Republic of the United States of Brazil); 'NO TESOURO NACIONAL SE PAGARÁ AO PORTADOR DESTA A QUANTIA DE' (In the National Treasury will be paid to the bearer of this the sum of); 'CINCO CRUZEIROS' (Five Cruzeiros); 'VALOR RECEBIDO' (Value Received); 'MINISTRO DA FAZENDA' (Minister of Finance); 'DIRETOR' (Director); 'CAIXA DE AMORTIZAÇÃO' (Amortization Fund); 'CASA DA MOEDA DO BRASIL' (Brazilian Mint); 'ESTAMPA 3 SÉRIE 070' (Printing 3 Series 070). BACK: 'REPÚBLICA DOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DO BRASIL' (Republic of the United States of Brazil); 'VITÓRIA REGIA' (Victoria Regia—scientific name Victoria amazonica, a giant water lily); 'CASA DA MOEDA DO BRASIL' (Brazilian Mint).
Intaglio (line engraving) printing, as evidenced by the fine-line work, complex geometric patterns, ornamental borders, and detailed vignettes visible throughout both sides. The note was printed by Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint), which was the authorized printer for Brazilian currency during this period. The precision of the line work and the depth of detail suggest professional security printing utilizing steel plates and traditional currency production methods.
The visual analysis identifies 'ESTAMPA 3 SÉRIE 070' (Printing 3, Series 070) on the note examined. Series numbers 1–75 are documented for this issue. The serial number visible is '01482⁹' / '014129'. Minor varieties may exist based on series and printing plate combinations, though these do not significantly affect value or collector desirability for common-grade examples. No major overprints, signature varieties, or design variants are noted for this Pick number.
