100000 Brazilian Cruzeiros Banknote (Hummingbird)

100,000 Cruzeiros Cruzado (Issued 1992–1993)

By the early 1990s, Brazil’s economy was gripped by hyperinflation so severe that a 100,000 cruzeiros note — a denomination that would have seemed extraordinary just years earlier — had become a routine part of everyday transactions, used by ordinary Brazilians for groceries, transport, and basic household expenses. The cruzeiro had been reintroduced in 1990 following the short-lived cruzado and cruzado novo, and notes of this magnitude reflected the catastrophic erosion of purchasing power that defined the period. Workers and shopkeepers alike handled these high-denomination notes as a matter of daily necessity rather than exception. This note stands as a vivid material record of one of the most turbulent monetary periods in Brazilian history.

On the front, the note is dominated by a beautifully engraved central vignette depicting a beija-flor — a hummingbird — rendered in fine intaglio detail, shown in mid-flight with its long bill extended, set against an elaborately worked background of guilloché patterning in soft olive-green and pale cream tones. The word “BEIJA-FLOR” appears as a label beneath the bird, confirming the identification. To the right of the central image, a butterfly is visible in lighter engraving, adding to the naturalistic theme. The issuing authority, “BANCO CENTRAL DO BRASIL,” is printed in bold dark lettering across the top of the note in a clean serif typeface. The denomination appears twice: once in large bold numerals “100,000” in the upper right corner rendered in green, and again in oversized purple-toned numerals “100,000” across the lower left, accompanied by the written denomination “CEM MIL CRUZEIROS” in strong dark lettering. The serial number “A 1451039786 A” appears in teal-green print both above and below the central design. Two official signature blocks are visible on the lower right side of the note, attributed to the Ministro da Economia, Fazenda e Planejamento and the Presidente do Banco Central do Brasil respectively, printed in small but legible text. The overall colour palette of the front blends olive-green, warm brown, pale yellow, and soft purple, with intricate rosette and wave guilloché patterns filling the background throughout.

The reverse of the note is dominated by a large, finely engraved landscape scene depicting the Cataratas do Iguaçu — the Iguaçu Falls — positioned on the border between Brazil and Argentina, as confirmed by the caption “CATARATAS DO IGUAÇU / FRONTEIRA BRASIL – ARGENTINA” printed in small text to the lower right of the central image. The waterfall panorama is rendered in detailed brown and olive-green tones, showing the wide arc of cascading falls, rocky outcroppings, and lush surrounding vegetation. A butterfly motif appears again on the left side of the reverse, consistent with the naturalistic design language used throughout the note. The denomination is repeated prominently: “100,000” appears in the upper right corner in green numerals with purple shadow colouring, and the large “100,000 CEM MIL CRUZEIROS” inscription runs boldly across the lower portion of the note in dark purple and teal lettering. The background is filled with fine guilloché rosette patterns in pale lilac and cream, providing a textured security substrate across the entire reverse face.

Exchange foreign coins and notes with no fuss: Webuyallcurrency.com accepts this 100,000 Cruzeiros banknote and other old or withdrawn Brazilian Cruzeiros banknotes, paying out for everything together in a single transaction.

• Indicate the quantity of 100,000 Cruzeiros Cruzado banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

If you have leftover currency to exchange, Webuyallcurrency.com accepts Brazilian Cruzeiros banknotes and a wide range of other foreign coins and notes, paying out for the lot in a single straightforward transaction.

Other Brazilian Cruzeiros you can exchange: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000.