500 Brazilian Cruzeiros Banknote (Augusto Ruschi)

500 Cruzeiros Cruzeiro Novo (Issued 1990)

The hummingbird depicted on this Brazilian banknote serves as a tribute to Augusto Ruschi, one of Brazil’s most celebrated naturalists and ornithologists, whose life’s work was devoted to the study and conservation of hummingbirds and orchids in the Atlantic Forest. Ruschi, based in Santa Teresa, Espírito Santo, became internationally renowned for his pioneering research into these iridescent birds, making him an entirely fitting subject for Brazil’s currency at a moment of significant monetary transition. This note was issued in 1990 as part of the conversion from Cruzados Novos to Cruzeiros, achieved through an overprint applied directly to the existing Quinhentos Cruzados Novos banknote. The result is a physically layered document that records, on a single piece of paper, two successive stages of Brazil’s monetary history.

On the front, the dominant feature is a finely engraved portrait of Augusto Ruschi positioned to the right of centre, rendered in detailed intaglio work with crisp line engraving capturing his features with considerable clarity. He is depicted in a composed, forward-facing pose, and beneath his portrait his name appears in small capitalised text reading “AUGUSTO RUSCHI.” The background behind and surrounding the portrait is filled with intricate guilloché patterning in soft green and pale cream tones, interspersed with stylised floral and botanical motifs that echo Ruschi’s association with natural history. To the upper left, the issuing authority is boldly stated as “BANCO CENTRAL DO BRASIL” in dark serif lettering. The serial number A 6677082668 A appears twice — once in the upper left and once along the lower right — printed in green. A rectangular black overprint box occupies the centre of the note, stamped with “500 CRUZEIROS” in bold block lettering, this being the conversion overprint that redenominated the note from Cruzados Novos to Cruzeiros. Below this overprint, the original denomination text remains legible, reading “500 QUINHENTOS CRUZADOS NOVOS” in dark blue lettering. To the lower right, two official signatures are visible alongside small printed titles indicating senior officers of the Banco Central do Brasil, including the designation “MINISTRO DA FAZENDA.” A small stylised bird emblem — the Banco Central do Brasil logo — appears in the lower right area. The numeral “500” is printed prominently in the upper right corner in dark green.

The reverse is dominated by a richly detailed central vignette illustrating Augusto Ruschi’s scientific legacy. To the left, a large, vibrantly coloured hummingbird is depicted in flight, its plumage rendered in shades of blue, teal, and gold, with wings extended and long bill prominent — a direct reference to Ruschi’s celebrated ornithological studies. Alongside the hummingbird, botanical elements including flowering plants and orchid-like blooms are carefully engraved, filling the mid-ground with fine linework in green and olive tones. To the right of centre, a figure — representing Ruschi himself — is shown in a naturalist’s field setting, dressed in practical clothing and engaged with plant specimens, depicted in warm brown and ochre tones. The Banco Central do Brasil bird logo appears in orange to the left margin within a framed box. The denomination “500” appears in the upper right corner in dark purple-red numerals. Along the lower portion of the note, the text “500 QUINHENTOS CRUZADOS NOVOS” is printed in bold dark blue lettering on a pale background band. The overall colour palette of the reverse transitions from warm amber and orange on the left through green and olive in the centre to cooler blue-grey tones towards the edges, creating a layered, naturalistic composition that complements the subject matter.

Sell foreign coins and banknotes the simple way: this 500 Cruzeiros banknote can be exchanged through Webuyallcurrency.com together with other old or withdrawn Brazilian Cruzeiros banknotes, all settled in a single transaction.

• Indicate the quantity of 500 Cruzeiros Cruzeiro Novo banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Exchange foreign coins and banknotes the easy way — Webuyallcurrency.com buys Brazilian Cruzeiros banknotes, current or discontinued, and combines them with the rest of your leftover currency for one simple payment.

Other Brazilian Cruzeiros you can exchange: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 1000, 5000.