An extraordinary 1822R Brazilian Pedro I gold Coronation 6,400 Reis, just one of 64 minted, provides a historic and emotional anchor to our 5,300+-lot Heritage Auctions World & Ancient Coins CICF Signature Auction, April 26-30, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Rosemont, IL. It is expected to bring $100,000+.
The auction will take place across a total of six sessions across six days, starting with Ancient Coins on Wednesday, April 25, followed by four floor sessions of World Coins, Thursday-Saturday, April 26-28, and closing with two days of Non-Floor sessions of more than 2,500 lots on Monday, April 30 and Tuesday, May 1.
The incredibly rare Pedro I 6,400 Reis gold of 1822 is, undoubtedly, the most important and charismatic piece of Brazilian numismatics.
It was a coronation piece, made in a hurry to be presented to guests of honor at Pedro’s Inauguration Ball on December 1, 1822. It was subsequently redesigned as the Emperor disliked the design of his portrait on the coin as a ‘Roman Emperor’ and in coins of 1823, he appears in full military regalia”.
Pedro I was a member of the exiled Portuguese Royal Family, and was a widely beloved figure in Brazil. By early 1822 he had become a popular leader amongst the Brazilian population. On Sept. 7, 1822, the Portuguese sent notice it wouldn’t accept self-governance in Brazil and would punish all who disobeyed. It took Pedro but a few seconds to make a decision.
Mounted on his horse, by the banks of the Ipiranga River in Sao Paulo, Pedro declared, ‘Friends, the Portuguese Cortes wished to enslave and persecute us. As of today our bonds are ended. By my blood, by my honor, by my God, I swear to bring about the independence of Brazil. Brazilians, let our watchword from this day forth be ‘Independence or Death!’
Since then, Brazilians have celebrated their Independence Day on Sept, 7.
