Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The cruzeiro was Brazil's official currency from 1942 until 1986, when it was replaced by the cruzado. It was divided into 100 centavos.
Brazil experienced severe inflation during the cruzeiro era:
| Period | Avg. Annual Inflation |
|---|---|
| 1942–1960 | 18.8% |
| 1960–1979 | 29.2% |
| 1980–1986 | 218% |
| 1986–1990 | 908.9% |
Numerous denominations circulated, from centavo coins to 100,000 cruzeiro notes in later series, reflecting hyperinflation's erosion of value.
The cruzeiro's history mirrors Brazil's economic turbulence in the mid-to-late 20th century.