Part 2: Coins of the Leper Colonies in Brazil

2.1: Brazil, Santa Casa de Misericordia Colonies

In Brazil internal money was used in four leper colonies but coins from only two are known today.

Santa Casa de Misericordia (Holy House of Mercy) was an organization that ran several leper colonies.

The leprosy hospital of Tocunduba was opened in 1815 by the Santa Casa de Misericordia and inaugurated the following year as 'Hospicio dos Lazaros'.
In 1917 an extensive leprosy campaign was launched, with the intention of building a new leprosarium in the outskirts of Tocunduba with the funds raised.
The foundation stone of this new institution was laid on 4 January 1920.

A special series of coins was ordered in order to calm the general population's fear of lepers spreading the disease by handling money.
These coins were to be used exclusively by the leprosy patients of the hospital.

You will notice that these coins are very plain with no date.

Year of Issue: 1920s (no date on coin)
Denomination: 100 Reis

Obverse: The name of the colony around the rim, and the denomination in the center.

Reverse: "Hospicio dos Lazaros" which means "leper hospice".

Composition: Brass.

Year of Issue: 1920s (no date on coin)
Denomination: 200 Reis

Obverse: The name of the colony around the rim, and the denomination in the center.

Reverse: "Hospicio dos Lazaros" which means "leper hospice".

Composition: Brass.

Denomination: 500 Reis

Obverse: The name of the colony around the rim, and the denomination in the center.

Reverse: "Hospicio dos Lazaros" which means "leper hospice".

Composition: Brass.

Year of Issue: 1920s (no date on coin)
Denomination: 1000 Reis

Obverse: The name of the colony around the rim, and the denomination in the center.

Reverse: "Hospicio dos Lazaros" which means "leper hospice".

Composition: Brass.

Year of Issue: 1920s (no date on coin)
Denomination: 5000 Reis

Obverse: The name of the colony around the rim, and the denomination in the center.

Reverse: "Hospicio dos Lazaros" which means "leper hospice".

Composition: Brass.

2.2: Brazil, Santa Teresa Colony

Colonia Santa Teresa was established in 1940 on the island of Santa Catarina, which is midway between Sao Paulo and Porto Alegre. On 29 July 1936 the foundation stone of the Colony was laid. The initial capacity was to be 300 beds.



Here are five tokens from the Colonia Santa Teresa leper colony in Brazil.

You will notice that they are very plain with no date.

These coins were minted in the 1940's and are composed of brass. The name of the colony was not part of the minting process, but were counter-stamped onto the reverse of each coin just before shipment to a particular colony or hospital.

Note: Some grading companies will use the word leprosarium on their labels, which is not a specific place
but rather refers to a hospital, house or community where lepers are housed and treated.

Denomination: 100 Reis

Obverse: "No" on the upper center, the denomination below.

Reverse: "C.S.T." counter-stamp, which are the initials for the Colonia Santa Teresa leper colony.

Composition: Brass.

Denomination: 200 Reis

Obverse: "No" on the upper center, the denomination below.

Reverse: "C.S.T." counter-stamp, which are the initials for the Colonia Santa Teresa leper colony.

Composition: Brass.

Denomination: 300 Reis

Obverse: "No" on the upper center, the denomination below.

Reverse: "C.S.T." counter-stamp, which are the initials for the Colonia Santa Teresa leper colony.

Composition: Brass.

Denomination: 500 Reis

Obverse: "No" on the upper center, the denomination below.

Reverse: "C.S.T." counter-stamp, which are the initials for the Colonia Santa Teresa leper colony.

Composition: Brass.

Denomination: 1000 Reis

Obverse: "No" on the upper center, the denomination below.

Reverse: "C.S.T." counter-stamp, which are the initials for the Colonia Santa Teresa leper colony.

Composition: Brass.