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HERITAGE: VILA RICA COLLECTION SELECTIONSHeritage Auctions will be selling the Vila Rica Collection Selections of Brazilian Coins, Part I on April 29. Select items are discussed below. -Garrett The Vila Rica Collection of Brazilian Coins, Part I It is with great pleasure that we present The Vila Rica Collection, Part I, the opening chapter of a remarkable cabinet more than three decades in the making. Built through over 30 years of dedicated and passionate collecting, the Vila Rica Collection was assembled with the ambitious goal of forming a comprehensive record of Brazilian gold, silver, and copper coinage. While rooted in this traditional pursuit of completeness, the collector was notably ahead of his time in prioritizing exceptional quality and eye appeal above all else-an approach that is evident throughout the coins offered here. Following the successful sale of the silver portion of the collection in May 2021, Heritage Auctions is proud to present the gold coinage in a three-part offering. This first installment, presented at CSNS 2026, begins with early Dutch-Brazil siege coinage and continues through the first official mint emissions of Brazil beginning in 1695, extending through the final issues of João V. These coins represent the formative period of Brazilian numismatics, capturing both the earliest colonial coinages and the emergence of a sophisticated minting tradition in the New World. To further enhance the scope and continuity of the offering, a small number of complementary pieces from outside the Vila Rica cabinet have also been included, helping to provide an even more complete representation of the series. Future selections from this extraordinary cabinet will continue at ANA 2026 and NYINC 2027, where additional gold rarities will be offered. Complementing these sales, select copper issues from the collection will be presented in partnership with Vila Rica Moedas in June 2026. Together, these offerings represent the culmination of a collector's decades-long pursuit of excellence and historical completeness. The Vila Rica Collection stands as a testament to dedication, discernment, and a profound appreciation for Brazilian numismatic heritage. Each coin offered within these pages reflects both the rich history of Brazil's colonial and imperial coinage and the careful eye of a collector who sought only the finest examples. We invite you to explore this exceptional collection and wish you the very best of success in your bidding. 
Pernambuco. Dutch Colony - Geoctroyeede West-Indische Compagnie (GWC) gold Klippe 3 Guilders (Florins) 1646 AU55 NGC, KM5.3, LMB-2, Angelini/Lucio-7.1A (this coin), Scholten-1450b (RRR). 1.81gm. The scarcest denomination and scarcest date of this elusive issue with 15 known examples, the present offering displaying wholly original surfaces graced by an amber patina. One can fully appreciate the West Indies monogram, under the III denomination, and ANNO BRASIL 1646, from the first coins ever struck in the Brazilian territory. We note that this piece is one of the few survivors that made it through time and was not salvaged from the Utrecht shipwreck in the 1980's, a find that shifted this extremely rare series (with less than a handful known of each denomination) to a more attainable status, though there are still only a few dozen available to the market outside museum collections. Truly an opportunity for the advanced Brazil type collector and for any trophy hunter. During the period of Dutch colonization of Brazil (1630-1654), three gold Klippe denominations--of 3, 6, and 12 Guilders--were minted in the Captaincy of Pernambuco for use within Brazil, beginning in October 1645 under the supervision of mint-master Pieter Janssen Bas. However, these issues were not legal tender in the Netherlands, and thus any such pieces that made their way to Europe were exchanged for Dutch Guilders and subsequently melted. Additionally, any such pieces remaining in Brazil after 1654, when the Dutch were finally ousted from South America, would have been melted, as after this period any Portuguese or Brazilian found with a Dutch coin ran the risk of being considered a traitor and hanged. As a consequence, the survival of such pieces at all is extremely uncommon, marking a special opportunity not to be missed by collectors of the Dutch colonial and Brazilian series alike. Ex. Heritage Auction #3012 (January 2011, Lot 23137); Jacques Schulman (November 1970)
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Pedro II gold 4000 Reis 1696-(B) AU Details (Harshly Cleaned) NGC, Bahia mint, KM89, LMB-24. Second type, narrow crown. A chiseled survivor exhibiting fully-rendered surfaces.
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João V gold 6400 Reis (Peça) 1736-B MS62 NGC, Bahia mint, KM151, LMB-136. A prime selection of this early Bahia date, here presenting chiseled motifs on lustrous and somewhat glossy fields.
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João V gold 400 Reis 1730-R MS62 NGC, Rio de Janeiro mint, KM144, LMB-153, Guimaraes-1.1, Gomes-J5.86.01 (Rare). Unveiling a true numismatic marvel, this exquisite offering rightfully stands in a league of its own. Distinguished as extremely rare, the census data from both NCG and PCGS reveal that this is the highest graded and only certified Mint State piece known. Its allure is made even more profound by a beautiful champagne-lemon luster that imbues the coin with a mesmerizing glow to the crisp surfaces. Every aspect benefits from a well-executed strike and centering, showcasing the craftmanship's precision of its time. By marrying rarity with its superior grade and stunning visuals, this praiseworthy coin represents a landmark of numismatic excellence. Ex. Heritage Auction #3110 (November 2023, Lot 30032)
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João V gold 4000 Reis 1722-R MS62 NGC, Rio de Janeiro mint, KM102, LMB-174a. Inverted reverse variety. A breathtaking survivor of this seldom-seen variety, here offering satin lustrous fields with soundly-struck motifs.
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João V gold 12800 Reis (Dobra) 1731/0-R MS62 NGC, Rio de Janeiro mint, KM140, cf. LMB-197 (unlisted overdate). First type, oval shield. Fleur-de-Lis over diagonal edge. An absolutely stellar piece with ample cartwheel luster and somewhat glossy outer-peripheries. The devices, impressively engraved for the issue, were rendered from new dies, only adding to this piece's eye-appeal. Unsurprisingly, the sole finest and only Mint State piece recorded by NGC. The law of November 29th, 1732 prescribed that the minting of milled edge issues should cease, establishing the new fleur-de-Lis edge. These measures came about not only as a result of the widespread circulation of clipped/tampered coins, but also due to the great number of counterfeits then seen in exchange. The coins were to be re-melted (with larger denominations such as the Dobras getting the new edge applied over the old diagonal one), removing the milled edge issues from circulation and uniformizing the new fleur-de-Lis types around the colony. According to the the 1732 Law, whoever was found carrying these old-edge issues would be considered a counterfeiter, suffering the severe sanctions of 4 years of exile in Africa, as well a fine on top of having the unlawful coins confiscated. The very few that survived this period are likely pieces that found themselves away from circulation, perhaps hidden in hoards, taken out of Brazil or lost at sea. According to consignor, this piece is pedigreed to the Antonio Joaquim da Costa Collection Metal: Gold
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João V gold 400 Reis (Cruzadinho) 1734-R UNC Details (Cleaned) NGC, Rio de Janeiro mint, KM152, LMB-198. One-year type. Despite the grade qualifier, this piece showcases lots of residual luster to the needle-point motifs. Considering RLM's a Fine Details and Eliasberg's a VF details, this is surely a solid survivor.
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João V gold 4000 Reis 1749-(L) AU55 NGC, Lisbon mint, KM164, LMB-292. One-year type struck in Lisbon for the Maranhão province. Softly struck, yet sharp, all dressed in amber hues.
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