Description and research notes
Thomas De La Rue specimen of the 5 Cruzeiros denomination, showing red SPECIMEN overprint, circular punch cancels, and zero serials. Certified PMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Uncirculated and noted Top Pop, this piece demonstrates the exceptional condition of De La Rue’s retained production samples.
The 5 Cruzeiros was the entry-level note in the 1963 issue, combining classic British engraving motifs—crisp guilloche, strong vignette framing, and color separation—with Brazilian iconography. During this era, De La Rue handled multiple denominations for the Tesouro Nacional, producing parallel proof and specimen sets for approval before the Banco Central assumed full design authority later in the decade.
High-grade specimens like this are more than collector showpieces; they preserve the transitional phase between outsourced design and Brazil’s eventual in-house engraving initiatives. The Top Pop designation underlines its status as the finest known certified example, representing De La Rue’s balance between industrial precision and artistry at the close of the Cruzeiro’s first epoch.