R$2 — Two Reais
The artwork
Front: The Effígie da República — the Republic personified as a laurel-crowned woman, engraved after a sculpted head and lit from the left so the stone reads as stone rather than flesh. "BANCO CENTRAL DO BRASIL" runs along the top, a large blue 2 fills the left field above the words REAIS and the motto DEUS SEJA LOUVADO. At right, a circular sun-like device and two signatures for the Ministro da Fazenda and the Presidente do Banco Central.
Back: A marine turtle, labelled TARTARUGA MARINHA in small vertical type, rearing up over coral and weed with three hatchlings scattered above it — the shell and flippers worked in fine engraved scale-work. DOIS REAIS stands in a tall panel down the right side, a blue 2 beneath the turtle, and the matching half of the circular device sits at the left. CASA DA MOEDA DO BRASIL is printed low at the right.
In circulation
The 2 reais joined the first family of the real in 2001, filling the gap between the 1 real and the 5. From 2010 the redesigned second-family notes began to displace it, and the older design was steadily withdrawn as it came back through the banks, though it long remained in everyday circulation.
Details
- IssuerBanco Central do Brasil
- CurrencyReal (R$)
- DenominationTwo Reais
- Collectedon the Brazil journey, 2005
- SeriesFirst family of the real; 2 reais denomination, introduced 2001
- PrinterCasa da Moeda do Brasil (printed on the back)
- SecuritySee-through register — the circular sun device completes when held to the light
- SignatureTwo: Ministro da Fazenda and Presidente do Banco Central do Brasil
- Dimensions140 × 65 mm