ALAIN COSTILHES1 ()

Revising brazilian gold bars

My article Brazilian Gold Bars was written before 1990,
but its publication was delayed until 19962. In the
meantime, new studies on the gold bars were released,
which justify revising a few items. At that time, a list
of all existing genuine bars was not complete, but we
are now in a position to reproduce it.
A little more than 200 genuine bars survive today,
which explains the reason of their extreme rarity.
Besides their beauty, the fact that they were used as
money adds numismatic value. Each bar, when handed
to its owner, was accompanied by a certificate (guia),
where were inscribed the quantities of gold brought to
the smelting house, the percentage taken by the
Portuguese crown, the weight of the bar, its fineness
and the name of the owner. Its circulating value in ris
was then written on the upper right corner of the paper.
As stated in my article, Kurt Prober is the principal
researcher who studied these bars and in 1990 he
published a new study on the subject3. In 1997,
Sothebys issued a catalogue to sell 38 of these bars,
which was a feat in itself, considering that this represented about 18% of all existing bars4. This lavish
catalogue included photos and actual weight of each
bar, enabling to complete their perfect identification;
the sale was canceled for unknown reasons, but all the
bars reappeared in an article by a Portuguese collector
in the First Luso-Brasileiro Congress in 19995.
An interesting and unique bar is the model in copper,
dated 1730, sent to their colony Brazil by the
Portuguese authorities, to serve as a reference to the

smelting houses: weighing 1.122 grams and measuring 450 millimeters, it contains all the details and the
royal seal which were to be observed. It is today kept
in the Casa da Moeda in Rio de Janeiro.
From 1601 until 1833 when the last one was closed,
twenty smelting houses were opened; however the only
bars known today come from only eight of them:
SABAR 84 bars, MATO GROSSO: 21, GOIS: 29,
VILA RICA: 40, RIO DAS MORTES: 7, I.MPERIAL
CIDADE DO OURO PRETO ( EX Vila Rica since
1823): 1, SERRO FRIO: 21, and CUYAB: 9. Total:
212 bars. The list hereunder is based on Probers book
with a few additions from other sources. As organized
by Prober, the bars are listed under odd numbers, leaving even numbers for future bars still to discover.
Then, of course, we have the counterfeits. 80 have been
identified: 45 Sabar, 18 Rio das Mortes, 9 Serro Frio
and 8 Vila Rica. How are they identified? Main signals:
general aspect of the workmanship, small errors in the
design of the Royal Arms, wrong use of Royal Arms
which changed according to the Portuguese rulers, and
wrong use of the assayers initials; pedigrees also help to
detect these counterfeits.
49 bars are in museums, 17 were stolen, one from private hands, the others from the Museu Histrico Nacional,
in a robbery in July 1937 ( 17 were stolen and only
one recuperated); probably those stolen bars were
melted. The rest of the 146 bars are today, presumably, in private hands, and thus, potentially on the
market sooner or later.
1. Sociedade Numismtica Brasileira, So Paulo, Brasil. Died in So
Paulo, 20-11-2003.
2. Costilhes, A.: Brazilian Gold Bars, in Italiam fato profugi -Numismatic
Studies Dedicated to Vladimir and Elvira Clain-Stefanell. Louvain-la
Neuve, 1996, pp. 97-108.
3. Prober, K.: Ouro em P e em Barras - Meio Circulante no Brasil - 17541833 ( plus catalogue). Paquet, 1990.
4. Brazilian Gold Currency Bars. Sothebys, London, Friday 30 May
1997.
5. Marques da Costa, C.: As Barras de Ouro do Brasil - Sua
Ordenao em Catlogo, in I Congresso Luso-Brasileiro de Numismtica,
Etapa So Paulo, Ita Numismtica, So Paulo, 2000. pp. 17-32.

1465

ALAIN COSTILHES

Table I - Genuine existing bars

Number
Prober
007
009
011
015
017
019
021
023
025
027
029
031
033
035
037
041
043
045
047
049
051
053
055
057
059
061
063
065
067
069
071
073
075
077
079
081
083
085
087
089
090
091
093
095
097
099
101
103
105
107
109

Smelting
House
Sabar
Mato Grosso
Goyaz
Sabar
Sabar
Rio das Mortes
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Rio das Mortes
Sabar
Vila Rica
Rio das Mortes
Sabar
Vila Rica
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Vila Rica
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Vila Rica
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Serro Frio
Serro Frio
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Serro Frio
Serro Frio
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Goyaz
Matto Grosso
Sabar
Serro Frio

Date
1778
1784
1790
1792
1794
1796
1796
1796
1799
1800
1801
1802
1804
1804
1804
1805
1806
1807
1807
1807
1808
1808
1808
1808
1809
1809
1809
1809
1809
1809
1809
1809
1809
1809
1809
1809
1809
1809
1809
1810
1810
1810
1810
1810
1810
1810
1810
1811
1811
1811
1811

Bar
Number
2111
699
953
1532
200
1149
208
3052
3265
2743
1752
2001
1324
1425
1532
301
2951
2778
3125
1908
530
949
2732
93
92
2842
3251
3558
3711
3757
5246
5698
6397
6400
86
4299
2977
3413
3826
634
1463
5756
415
983
2358
2642
2980
108
588
249
770

1466

Actual
Weight
217.00
471.50
149.30
105.69
57.90
161.90
99.00
85.38
62.40
96.45
82.35
73.63
119.30
130.00
64.91
98.31
69.56
53.70
86.38
69.81
131.62
53.31
53.50
18.30
67.00
22.00
57.90
25.30
37.10
50.99
109.77
89.20
53.70
110.00
41.20
22.37
27.60
22.45
122.69
24.40
81.63
327.92
570.30
70.55

Theoretical
Weight
212.07
114.65
471.55
149.68
54.98
105.68
57.77
161.96
99.21
85.76
62.46
96.52
82.47
74.08
119.63
130.29
65.44
98.32
69.62
53.49
88.15
70.22
131.78
53.40
53.49
20.32
66.94
22.11
57.97
35.85
25.10
37.20
43.63
51.38
109.87
89.55
23.31
53.79
115.15
42.14
23.31
27.79
22.51
123.51
24.51
21.71
81.68
328.11
571.30
73.71
70.52

M: Museum
P: Private
M: Sabar
M: MHN
P
M: ANS
P
P
P
P
M: BCB
P
M: MHN
M: S.I.
P
P
M: MHN
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
M: BCB
M: BCB
P
M: MHN
M: BCB
P
M: BCB
M: MAS
P
P
P
? Stolen from MHN
P
P
M: BEB
P
P
M: ANS
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P

REVISING BRAZILIAN GOLD BARS

Number
Prober
111
113
115
117
119
121
123
125
127
129
131
133
135
137
139
141
143
145
146
147
149
151
153
155
157
159
161
163
165
167
169
171
173
175
177
179
181
183
185
187
189
191
193
195
197
199
201
203
205
207
209
211
213
215
217
219
221

Smelting
House
Serro Frio
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Serro Frio
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Goyaz
Goyaz
Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Serro Frio
Vila Rica
Goias
Goias
Goias
Goias
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Serro Frio
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Mato Grosso
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar

Date
1811
1811
1811
1811
1811
1812
1812
1812
1812
1812
1812
1812
1812
1812
1812
1812
1813
1813
1813
1813
1813
1813
1813
1813
1813
1813
1813
1813
1813
1813
1813
1813
1813
1813
1814
1814
1814
1814
1814
1814
1814
1814
1814
1814
1814
1814
1814
1814
1814
1814
1814
1814
1815
1815
1815
1815
1815

Bar
Number

Actual
Weight

772
121
998
2557
3164
154
754
79
317
1022
2388
2776
3515
365
531
2249
327
551
104
153
443
1053
1382
347
1426
1448
1752
1807
1916
2872
3523
3588
856
2723
136
181
292
920
174
1019
1177
1609
1672
1953
2033
2746
2885
166
1290
1413
1514
2297
241
39
386
678
1876

1467

37.80
21.00
305.00
611.90
26.05
19.10
110.30
25.00
23.70
59.00
292.60
136.35
1,386.50
560.30
138.90
459.00
23.30
43.30
23.03
30.20
21.93
28.50
53.20
111.17
44.23
29.27
27.45
27.22
36.30
25.06
47.60
21.88
114.87
103.96
217.90
1,387.00
127.30
19.40
27.50
-

Theoretical
Weight
37.74
44.34
110.12
21.20
307.09
612.83
90.24
26.29
19.43
112.27
25.10
23.91
58.62
80.68
21.32
294.46
136.89
1,387.99
561.20
141.15
358.69
459.24
23.61
43.60
25.66
22.11
21.22
23.61
30.78
29.85
22.38
28.68
26.10
53.78
53.49
112.08
44.37
29.28
27.46
26.30
36.16
25.10
47.81
53.78
21.81
30.78
114.84
31.76
105.19
219.34
1,384.52
127.30
20.62
27.19
25.70

M: Museum
P: Private
?
P
M: UBP
P
P
M: MP USP
M: BCB
P
M: MHN
M: BCB
? Stolen from MHN
P
P
M: BEB
?: Stolen from MHN
P
M: S.I.
P
P
M: BCB
M: BCB
?: Stolen from P
P
?: Stolen from MHN
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
? Stolen from MHN
P
P
P
P
P
? Stolen from MHN
P
? Stolen from MHN
P
P
? Stolen from MHN
P
P
P
M: S.I.
P
P
P
M: ANS
?: Stolen from MHN
M: BCB
P
P
P

ALAIN COSTILHES

Number
Prober
223
225
227
229
231
233
235
237
239
241
243
245
247
249
251
253
255
257
259
261
263
265
267
268
269
271
273
275
277
279
281
283
285
287
289
291
293
295
297
299
301
303
305
307
311
313
315
317
319
321
323
325
327
329
330
331
333
335

Smelting
House
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Goias
Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Serro Frio
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Goias
Goias
Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso
Rio das Mortes
Rio das Mortes
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Vila Rica
Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso
Rio das Mortes
Rio das Mortes
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Sabar
Serro Frio
Serro Frio
Serro Frio
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Vila Rica
Vila Rica

Date
1815
1815
1815
1815
1815
1815
1815
1815
1815
1815
1816
1816
1816
1816
1816
1816
1816
1816
1816
1816
1816
1817
1817
1817
1817
1817
1817
1817
1817
1817
1817
1817
1817
1817
1817
1817
1817
1817
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818
1818

Bar
Number
2019
2135
2423
3074
167
1069
1470
2012
2135
2176
799
659
673
1635
2050
3032
2148
218
704
736
776
1398
608
761
196
679
41
424
146
687
1265
1392
1433
1552
1883
2267
2311
997
188
352
658
202
529
280
896
965
990
1098
1682
1933
37
239
359
173
536
641
661
729

1468

Actual
Weight
20.91
23.00
102.90
85.05
24.89
20.20
273.00
1,538.90
1,119.00
50.17
53.00
21.48
60.66
20.92
27.16
217.24
80.07
21.59
32.90
36.40
23.28
24.00
28.60
26.30
22.90
27.10
48.35
1,672.60
141.79
229.00
60.94
43.78
25.50
26.97
33.54
298.09
22.88
192.52
114.40
26.33
54.00
250.00

Theoretical
Weight
20.92
23.01
75.90
103.36
85.46
25.10
119.23
52.79
20.32
37.45
273.62
1,533.87
1,118.80
50.50
53.16
21.51
21.51
60.17
21.12
23.81
27.18
37.35
374.03
42.44
218.34
80.31
21.71
33.31
36.44
23.31
24.31
28.60
26.30
20.92
23.01
27.20
48.11
1,674.63
139.95
141.94
229.30
60.96
43.92
20.32
25.40
21.22
21.81
27.20
33.77
296.98
22.91
192.45
115.34
191.84
26.50
53.99
36.45
249.42

M: Museum
P: Private
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
M: BCB
P
? Stolen from MHN
M: Sabar
P
P
M: Sabar
P
M: Sabar
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
M: S.I.
M: BCB
P
P
P
P
P
P
M: BCB
M: BCB
M: Sabar
P
P
M: MHN
?: Stolen from MHN
P
P
M: MAS
P
P
P
M: S.I.
P
P
P
?: Stolen from MHN
P
P
P
P
P

REVISING BRAZILIAN GOLD BARS

Number
Prober
337
339
341
343
345
347
349
351
353
355
357
359
361
363
365
367
369
371
373
375
377
379
383
385
387
389
391
393
395
397
399
401
403
405
407
409
411
413
415
417
419
421
423
425
427

SABAR:
MHN:
ANS:
BCB:
S.I.:
MAS:
BEB:
UBP:
MP USP:

Smelting
House
Goias
Mato Grosso
Sabar
Sabar
Goias
Goias
Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso
Serro Frio
Cuyab
Cuyab
Cuyab
Cuyab
Cuyab
Cuyab
Cuyab
Goias
Goias
Goias
Goias
Goias
Goias
Goias
Goias
Goias
Cuiab
Cuiab
Goias
Goias
Goias
Goias
Goias
Goias
Sabar
Ouro Preto
Serro Frio
Serro Frio
Serro Frio
Serro Frio
Sabar
Serro Frio
Serro Frio
Serro Frio
Sabar

Date

Bar
Number

1819
1819
1819
1819
1820
1820
1820
1820
1820
1820
1821
1821
1821
1821
1821
1821
1821
1821
1821
1821
1821
1821
1821
1821
1821
1821
1822
1822
1822
1822
1822
1822
1822
1823
1828
1828
1829
1830
1831
1831
1832
1832
1832
1832
1833

27
102
216
267
31
387
124
255
456
20
157
167
233
328
545
799
817
4
194
281
390
517
587
596
616
618
111
137
41
152
229
233
268
172
130
262
76
25
28
31
105
4
114
115
56

Museu do Ouro, Sabar

Museu Histrico Nacional, Rio de Janeiro
American Numismatic Society, New York
Banco Central do Brasil, Braslia
Smithsonian Institute, Washington
Museu de Arte Sacra, So Paulo
Banco Econmico da Bahia, Salvador
Unio de Bancos Portugueses, Porto
Museu Paulista, Universidade de So Paulo

1469

Actual
Weight
230.00
182.00
37.72
197.80
174.00
32.26
221.40
111.06
139.25
32.45
153.29
264.00
187.80
47.79
195.05
20.18
74.53
345.94
124.20
70.00
54.84
27.80
83.22
114.10
101.00
27.65
82.51
134.50
218.55
27.70
26.90
147.20
186.78
49.49
167.50
62.10
103.77
40.30
36.70
90.40

Theoretical
Weight
230.69
181.54
37.36
197.81
175.51
32.42
222.78
111.16
139.33
32.37
154.19
264.56
187.81
47.81
196.33
20.92
114.66
75.30
347.24
27.04
125.46
70.38
55.44
40.92
28.10
84.17
114.61
101.45
27.94
83.07
136.76
221.28
27.94
26.99
148.78
186.77
49.41
167.69
83.67
55.08
64.24
103.70
39.74
36.55
90.52

M: Museum
P: Private
P
?: Stolen from MHN
P
P
P
P
M: BCB
P
P
P
P
?: Stolen from MHN
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
M: MHN
M: MAS
M: M.P. USP
P
P
M: BCB
P
M: BCB
P
?: Stolen from MHN
P
?: Stolen from MHN
P
P
P
M: MHN
P
P
M: ANS
P
P
M: MHN
P
P
P
P