Brazilian Real (BRL) Profile

Currency code
Currency symbol

R$ 

Subunit
1/100, centavo
Coins freq used
R$1, 5 centavos, 10 centavos, 25 centavos, 50 centavos
Coins rarely used
1 centavo (discontinued in 2006)
Banknotes freq used
R$2, R$5, R$10, R$20, R$50, R$100
Banknotes rarely used
R$1 (discontinued in 2006)
Central bank
Central Bank of Brazil (http://www.bcb.gov.br)
Currency users
Currency user list

Brazilian real users

The Brazilian real is the currency of Brazil (officially Federative Republic of Brazil), which is the largest country in South America and the world's fifth-largest country.

Brazil declared independence from the United Kingdom of Portugal on September 7, 1822, and was recognized on August 29, 1825.

Brazil is a member of the Union of South American Nations (briefed as UZAN or UNASUL or UNASUR according to various languages), which is an intergovernmental union established on December 8, 2004, consisting of twelve members and 2 observers (Mexico and Panama). The Union of South American Nations expects to model the European Union and introduce a common currency, possibly by 2019.

Currencies of Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), exchange rate: Feb.14th,2013
"UNASUR" Currency name Code 1USD= 1EUR= 1GBP=
Argentina Argentine peso ARS 5.00599 6.68764 7.75558
Bolivia Venezuelan bolívar fuerte BOB 6.90964 9.23015 10.7047
Brazil Brazilian real BRL 1.95928 2.61746 3.03543
Chile Chilean peso CLP 470.738 628.85 729.321
Colombia Colombian peso COP 1783.29 2382.35 2762.9
Ecuador United States dollar USD 1.00000 1.33592 1.54932
Guyana Guyanese dollar GYD 203.948 272.451 315.98
Paraguay Paraguayan guaraní PYG 4089.31 5462.93 6335.42
Peru Peruvian nuevo sol PEN 2.56899 3.43197 3.98019
Suriname Suriname dollar SRD 3.28713 4.39199 5.09252
Uruguay Uruguayan peso UYU 19.0398 25.4355 29.4978
Venezuela Venezuelan bolivar VEF 6.29375 8.40786 9.75069
Panama <2> Panamanian balboa PAB 1.00000 1.33592 1.54932
Mexico <2> Mexican peso MXN 12.6915 16.9561 10.6619

Notes:
<1>. The group expects to model the EU with a common currency by 2019.
<2>.  Mexico and Panama are observers of the Union of South American Nations.

Brazilian real history

The Brazilian real has been the present-day currency of Brazil since July 1, 1994, replacing the previous currency of cruzeiro real (BRR) at 1 BRL = 2750 BRR. The first official currency of Brazil was the real, which was used from 1790 to 1942. So the present real (BRL) is somehow equivalent to 2.75 x 1018 (2.75 quintillions) of the original real.

Brazil currencies history (from the year of 1790 to present)
Currency name Code Introduced since (Being) used until Notes
Brazilian real BRL June 20, 1994 present New real. It replaced the cruzeiro real at 1 BRL=2750 BRR. The new real is equal to 2.75 x 1018 (2.75 quintillions) of Brazil's original real (existed from 1790 to 1942).
Brazilian cruzeiro real BRR August 1, 1993 June 20, 1994 Cruzeiro real replaced the 3rd cruzeiro at a rate of 1 BRR=1000 BRE.
Brazilian cruzeiro BRE March 15, 1990 August 1, 1993 3rd Cruzeiro. It replaced the cruzado nono at 1 BRE=1000 BRN.
Brazilian cruzado novo BRN January 15, 1989 March 15, 1990 Cruzado nono replaced the cruzado at a rate of 1 BRN=1000 BRC
Brazilian cruzado  BRC Feburay 28, 1986 January 15, 1989 Cruzado replaced the cruzeiro nono at a rate of 1 BRC= 1000 BRB.
Brazilian cruzeiro nono BRB Feburay 12, 1967 Feburay 28, 1986 2nd Curzeiro.  Cruzeiro nono replaced the cruzeiro at 1 BRB=1000 BRZ.
Brazilian cruzeiro BRZ Novomber 1, 1942 Feburay 12, 1967 1st Cruzeiro. Cruzeiro replaced the real at a rate of 1 BRZ =1000 reals.
Brazilian real(old) / 1790 Novomber 1, 1942 Brazil first officialy currency, replaced by cruzeiro in 1942 and the name was resurrected in 1994.

Brazilian real coins and banknotes

The Brazilian real is subdivided into 100 centavos.

Currently, in circulation, coins are in denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50 centavos, 1 real, and banknotes are in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 1000 reals.