Minas Gerais — Nature has always been intrinsic to life in Queimadas a quilombo community located in an environmental buffer zone where the Cerrado and the Atlantic forest meet But when Brazilian mining company Herculano Mineração announced its plans to extract iron ore nearby the community felt their ecological way of life was at risk “They said they would go ahead whether we liked it or not,” says Valderes Quintino about the company that first approached him in 2018 people in Queimadas have denounced mining companies applying for licenses for violations and irregularities against the community; they fear that if candidate mining projects ever get the green light while permanently damaging the region’s ecosystems and local livelihoods Queimadas created a resistance front against the advance of mining while advocating for their land and its environmental conservation Part of a region considered the “water tank of Brazil,” where the Jequitinhonha the municipality of Serro is part of the Pico do Itambé State Park the Águas Vertentes Conservation Unit and the Serra do Espinhaço UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Its historical center sits about 5 kilometers from the potential mining site of Herculano Mineração Herculano Mineração announced its plan to extract 1 million tons of iron ore annually for 10 years Its potential mining site covers approximately 865 hectares (2,139 acres) and is located about one kilometer from Queimadas Another mining company, Ônix Mineração, arrived in Serro in 2021 when it first requested licenses to explore iron ore about 4 km away from Queimadas. Ônix aims to extract 300,000 tons of iron ore annually for 9 years on an area of about 400 hectares (988 acres) Iron ore exploitation may cause “immeasurable loss” for Queimadas, Juliana Deprá, activist for Movement for Popular Sovereignty in Mining (MAM by its Portuguese acronym) who works closely with the traditional communities of Serro “Serro’s water collection happens below the area where Herculano aims to settle its operations There is a risk that the project will compromise the hydric security of the entire population,” Matheus Mendonça Leite lawyer of the Federation of Quilombo Communities of Minas Gerais State N’Golo Leite adds that the contamination of local ecosystems can threaten the subsistence and food security of the Queimadas people most of whom rely on subsistence agriculture “I won’t be able to continue producing good quality cheese,” said Valderes Ferreira a cheese producer who raises cattle and grows fruits the mining projects can open a precedent for a dangerous extractive race in Serro minerals demanded by the global commodities learned that a company was interested in the bauxite deposits in their territory in August 2024 says they need to be more cautious and keep strangers out of the community had already tried to set up a meeting with people in Ausente Ausente, a community of around 80 families, is also known for its agroecological traditions. Their women-led agroecological gardens are key for income generation and food security became “a stone in mining’s shoe.” Fighting the mining companies is the only way to preserve the ecological way of living which she and her community are so proud of we don’t let outsiders dictate what we want We know what is right for us and what we want to preserve,” says Campos While Serro remains a municipality free from active mining projects its creation is tied to the minerals discovered in the region in the eighteenth century With the depletion of most of the local gold and diamond deposits in the early twentieth century Serro’s economic elites turned to ranching and crops The iron ore race re-started in 2008 when authorities granted MMX Mineração the mineral rights to extract iron ore next to Queimadas MMX sold its mining rights to the British multinational Anglo American but the latter didn’t get the environmental permit and in 2018 sold its mineral rights to Herculano Mineração Herculano Mineração’s client list includes major commodity companies Herculano Mineração is the closest any company has ever been to extracting iron in the area who also complain about alleged irregularities and violations against their community Part of the road was paved only a few kilometers from Cruz’s home According to Leite, even though approved by the State Institute of Forests and implemented by Serro City Hall the road favors the neighboring projects of Herculano Mineração and Ônix Mineração In October 2023, after an appeal by local quilombo communities the Federal Court of Minas Gerais suspended both Herculano and Ônix licensing processes until the companies carry out consultations with the community of Queimadas Cruz says she feels betrayed and disrespected by the companies and fears for her community if the firms ever start operating “I just don’t know what will become of us,” she worries where she and her husband use agroecological practices to grow coffee it appears the same authorization document was signed in October 2022 by a lawyer who In its reply to Mongabay’s request for comment Herculano did not respond with regard to this matter authorized the State Institute of Forests to issue the road permit responded that its position has been made clear on previous occasions in the public sphere Herculano Mineração has granted financial benefits to Serro’s economic elites such as Serro’s Industry and Commerce Association and the Cooperative of Rural Producers In response to Mongabay’s request for comment Herculano Mineração stated: “Herculano Mineração informs that it does not comment on the status of administrative licensing processes underway which is the responsibility of the competent organs the company confirms that the licensing process for the Serro Project is underway Herculano Mineração believes in the legislation and in the quality of the studies it has submitted Herculano Mineração has complied with all the legislation requirements to get the licenses for its project from the competent bodies.” and lacked adequate methodology to measure the potential socio-environmental impacts Serro activists claim that mining and public interests became mixed during the term of the current mayor Activists claim he took a stand against mining in his 2020 campaign but signed a compliance letter for Herculano’s Serro Project in February 2021 Serro’s City Hall did not respond to Mongabay’s request for comment the mining industry enjoys solid influence in decision making both in the executive power and the courts,” Leite told Mongabay has been doing what it takes to advance its interests Company representatives prowl around the community by car They also approach Queimadas people on the streets to “buy” them with artesian wells or job offers,” Valderes Quintino told Mongabay He is assisted by a governmental protection program since he received a death threat from a local farmer. The episode happened in April 2023 when representatives from Herculano and Ônix along with supporting landowners and city councilors intervened during a Queimadas community meeting with Public Prosecutor’s Office staff Both MAM and N’golo have complained that Herculano Mineração has carried out defamatory campaigns against supporters of traditional communities’ rights approved an amendment to recognize a local river threatened by candidate mining projects as a Subject of Rights if people in Serro know you are against mining you can be kicked out of a store,” Quintino said The advance of mining has not only stirred tensions within Serro’s overall population but also divided the region’s quilombo communities “Mining easily puts people against each other,” he told Mongabay While most people in the quilombo communities are against mining argues that the minority who supports it does not understand the destruction it may cause “Some people are convinced that mining ‘will create job opportunities will bring progress and money to the community,’” said dos Santos who manages the association of Vila Nova quilombo Several Quilombo residents who support mining refused to talk to Mongabay More than fifteen years after the first company showed interest in Serro iron ore quilombo communities and their network of supporters (which includes lawyers and several social movements) still hold the advance of mining in Serro Herculano states that it “reiterates its deep respect for traditional communities and has been discussing the Quilombo Communities Component Study for the Queimadas community with INCRA (Land Reform Institute) and SEDESE the entities responsible for the issue.” The company also stated that it “has no reason not to remain confident that the project will be approved.” Both Herculano and Ônix Mineração are required by the courts to hold public consultations with the community of Queimadas before environmental licensing can proceed  It appears that both Herculano and Ônix held public hearings in June and August 2024 to further discuss their iron ore projects with the Serro population To preserve their ways of living and territory for future generations “We fight today so we can be alive tomorrow,” says Quintino Banner image: Proud of her agroecological garden fears for her family’s health and subsistence if companies start extracting iron ore near the Queimadas community The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] Copyright © 2025 Duquesne University Athletics Accessibility and Legal Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. See how a Colorado couple turned a 1960s Scotty HiLander into the rolling getaway of their dreams 2 of 9 Semi-DIY makeover Although that 1968 HiLander needed some serious rehab on the inside, the mechanicals were in good working order. Using the Serro Scotty Camper Enthusiasts website as a resource, Christa started updating their new “vacation home.” 7 of 9 Efficient entertainment Although the bedside lamp is electric, the couple brings LED lanterns for when they’re not staying at a “domesticated” campsite. Their MP3 docking station is also battery powered, and the reading material kept next to their bed is entirely paper based. 8 of 9 Multi-use furnishings In the storage space under the dining benches, Christa stashes toilet paper, paper towels, collapsible water jugs, and extra blankets for cold nights. And if they need a place for a third person to sleep, the table and benches can be turned into a twin bed. and so much more delivered straight to your door every quarter Copyright ©2025 S Media International Corporation. SUNSET is a registered trademark of S Media International Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy SUNSET may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website Offers may be subject to change without notice According to the National Serro Scotty Organization but it didn't stop him from opening up a company to build travel trailers Serro started in earnest in 1957 with a 10-foot Scotty Sportsman teardrop (later called Sportsman Jr.) before adding a 13-foot Scotty Sportsman Sr in 1958 and a 12-foot Scotty Sportsman 12 model in 1959 adding a 15-foot model as well as opening a plant in Oklahoma The Scotty trailers were popular enough that Serro opened up Scottyland a 230 acre campground just for Scotty owners The little trailer you see before you was built in 1964 Based on the floorplans available for the 13-foot unit this one is likely the Mattress model it's clean with a gorgeous two-tone paint scheme You have more or less similar amenities as a pop-up camper One thing I love about this camper is that the color theming continues inside it makes up for its lack of features by being incredibly light At just 975 pounds it could be towed by just about anything I've towed more weight with a Smart Fortwo before which is short enough to fit in some garages The seller for this Scotty Sportsman says that it's road-ready without any leaks It's unclear whether this one has been restored or not it has survived incredibly well over the decades Sadly, the same cannot be said for Serro. The company continued to expand through the decades, producing trailers as long as 32-feet-long and even producing park models. Serro even made a motorhome in 1995. But in 1997, Serro's factory burned down, putting an end to camper production. Serro Scotty trailers would be revived in 2007 just to end production again in 2014 The price for this piece of camping history is a reasonable $7,200. Go ahead and hitch this up to whatever you have! Watch the newscast to get the code and enter to win an ABC 13 Umbrella! New restaurant opening at former Trio locationby Jacob Hunziker (WSET) — A new restaurant is coming to the former Trio Brick Oven Eatery on Route 221 The 221 Tap and Table is scheduled for opening in the fall of 2022 The restaurant will be on route 221 near the Perrowville Road intersection Michael Serro is the managing partner of the restaurant and he said the restaurant plans to have something for everyone RELATED:Trio restaurant closes down Forest location “This restaurant was a really nice restaurant before but we're going to do some things and make people go There is a newsletter that you can sign up for at their website where they are giving updates on construction and invites to be the first to eat there They are also looking to hire 30-40 people so if you're interested in applying, you can also do so on their website, found here Images of a furry visitor wandering through Biglerville Borough went viral on social media on Thursday afternoon Resident Doug Serro was driving around 12:35 p.m when he saw a large black bear cross the street in front of him "It was running full speed when it went across the road," Serro recounted RELATED: Un-bear-lievable: Black bear cub roams downtown Hanover Serro then began to record video. After posting it on Facebook, the video amassed more than 130,000 views and 3,000 shares Biglerville Borough Police Chief Gary Lanious was able to drive the bear out of town on foot The black bear had been "walking through the middle of town The bear caused little harm to the borough These sightings have "gone up dramatically' in recent years "We got more bears now than ever before in Adams County," he said It was "kind of unusual" for such a large bear to trek through town as that is more typical behavior for younger bears Biglerville is close to the normal habitat for black bears.  David advised that residents do not leave out unsecured food People should keep a distance if they spot one "Black bear attacks are extremely rare," David said READ: Black bear spotted in Manheim Township 'just passing through,' police say How do you make a pint-sized 1969 Scotty camper even cuter and make the retro-styled Japanese roadster appear to be towing the trailer The exterior features baby blue touches on the upper sides but there's everything you'd need for a camping weekend The design perfectly fits the late 1960s aesthetic and the light above it is the original gas unit that now runs on electricity The cooktop and oven are the original pieces This Scotty was for sale but already sold before this video was published the Figaro appears to be towing the Scotty The owners have a Chevy pickup for actually hauling the Scotty With a turbocharged 1.0-liter four-cylinder making 75 horsepower (56 kilowatts) and a three-speed automatic there's probably not enough power for the Figaro to pull the little camper at a safe speed on the highway A piece of paper on the windshield claims this Figaro is a prototype model and has leather from Bentley We can't be sure how accurate these claims are The Figaro was one of the four special models that Nissan introduced All of them were based on the contemporary Micra but had special styling There were also the Pao and BE-1 hatchbacks The S-Cargo was a tiny van that looked like a snail The Figaro debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1989 and sales began in 1991. It featured a folding roof that retained side pillars so that the top was never fully gone. Production only ran until February 1992 Nissan Could Turn the Frontier Plug-In Hybrid Into an SUV The New Audi A6 Plug-In Hybrid Has a Decent Electric Range Nissan Abandons Plan For US-Built Electric Sedans 2026 Jeep Compass Unveiled: Hybrid or EV With Up to 375 HP Linda Serro has been a member of the Southwest Florida community for more than 20 years She has served Florida Gulf Coast University as a professor of literacy education program leader of reading education and child development program Associate Dean in the College of Education and most recently as the Director of the Lucas Center for Faculty Development She is an active volunteer member of the Literacy Council Gulf Coast literacy is the ability to read and write; but I believe that the meaning of literacy goes much further Literacy to me means that the individual is able to use those skills to shape his or her life in positive ways This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Become a Sponsor I’m setting out to find the coolest gifts in the land (Buffalo land Retro and vintage furniture and clothing is making a comeback in Buffalo a friend of mine and I toured some of the newer throwback emporiums around town some of which I will be detailing in days to come While my goal for The Gift of Cool 2021 holiday gift guide is to find gift items that are not limited in number when it comes to sourcing cool furniture and home accessories we’re pretty much pigeonholed to looking at original one-offs I ended up zeroing in on one item in particular that oozes cool It’s a circa 1960 Serro Scotty Sportsman Camper it has also been decorated and accessorized in period decor I conducted a Google image search for Serro Scotty campers, and not only did I find a wealth of information I also came across plenty of images of various models Most of the campers that I came across were pretty neat which is located at Funky Town Vintage on Wherle Drive I originally found this camper last year upon discovering the kitsch glory that is Funky Town At the time I thought that it would make a great little Airbnb While not exactly cheap at the asking price of $9500 especially when considering the amount of interior remodeling that has been lovingly performed if it’s being featured in this gift guide then we’ve answered our own question Funky Town Vintage | 1165 Wehrle Drive | Williamsville, NY 14221 | (716) 780-2639 | Facebook The Gift of Cool #1 | La Gritona Reposado @ Paradise Wine The Gift of Cool #2 | Custom Guitars by luthier Declan Ryan As one of the region’s most read publications since its launch in 2004 Buffalo Rising’s diverse editorial team delivers a wide range of relevant content to our readers as it unfolds in real time An independently owned and operated digital publication Buffalo Rising provides editorial and critical reviews on all topics that relate to Buffalo Click Here to Share Your Story Notices are posted by 10 am Monday through Saturday Adjust Text Size: A+ A- As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 18 Share your memories and/or express your condolences below Unfortunately with the need to moderate tributes for inappropriate content your comments may take up to 48 hours to appear Sultry voiced singer Serro finally dropped her debut album titled Kuwe and it is fire this album is definitely one to give a try The 14-track album is a showcase of Serro’s musical versatility as it has songs from multiple genres i.e Neo-soul in Aheri Salsa in Mtumwa and Jazzy elements in Rongai The songs which are sang in various languages: Luo and English are a testament to Serro’s growth in music since her debut single Rongai which was released in 2016 Her lyrics tell her stories honestly through her beautiful voice and enable the listeners to connect with her She manages to effortlessly convey the emotions in all her songs Kuwe which is a great milestone in Serro’s music career has also passed through the hands of gifted musicians such as producers and musicians Mutoriah and Fancy Fingers Drummer Alex Gichuki and saxophonist Eric Maru who gave their unique talents to this project Serro who was very thankful to her fans and excited about this album said “I hope that my listeners connect with the music because I believe we’ve all gone through an experience or two that I shared in the album.” She also added that this would be a good playlist to ponder upon during the lockdown The album which was released on 31st May 2020 is available here We surely can’t wait to see her perform some of these songs live as she one of Kenya’s most talented live performers Get your weekly vibe delivered directly to your inbox Soulful singer Serro dropped yet another amazing song ‘Ya Dunia.‘ The song which was produced by Mutoriah is one of the tracks off her upcoming debut album KUWE Ya Dunia is a song about the artificial lives of people on social media and the financial struggles that Kenyans artistes go through before getting their big breaks Serro’s rich vocals blend well with the beautifully layered instrumentals of the track The former Sauti Academy student brings her A game on this song as she highlights more problems faced by the youth such as endless debt Serro’s heartfelt message is well articulated in the 3:46 mins long song which was mixed and mastered by Tawala Beats The visuals of the song which were shot and directed by KG Brian capture Serro’s eclectic African fashion in various locations “I hope that the song will spark a conversation based on honesty and truth I hope it inspires people to share their own truth so that we can all learn to be more understanding.” The song is available on various channels such as Youtube Serro is popularly known for her breath taking live performances and songs such as Okello and Rongai among others She is definitely a star to watch out for this year Lynbrook fifth-graders have swept the state level of a national trivia competition for the second consecutive year A group of 32 students in the Lynbrook district's West End, Marion Street and Waverly Park elementary schools recently finished first, second and third, respectively, among New York teams in the 2013 Knowledge Master Open, a computer-based quiz in subjects ranging from United States history to Earth science to the fine arts The pupils are part of Lynbrook's Voyager Program for gifted and talented students "The Voyagers have been practicing for this since September," said teacher Doreen Papa "All the groups worked diligently and cooperatively The Knowledge Master Open requires teams of students to work together to answer 100 multiple-choice questions in a timed format with points being awarded based on the accuracy and speed of their answers The competition is designed to stimulate enthusiasm for learning as well as recognition of academic accomplishment politics and crime stories in Nassau County By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy West End also placed sixth nationwide out of 175 teams and has claimed the state's top spot for three straight years LONG BEACH The Long Beach public schools' athletic department recently received a $10,000 donation to aid in ongoing superstorm Sandy recovery efforts from Friends of Port Rowing, a nonprofit rowing club in Port Washington The funds were raised through an ergathon -- the rowing equivalent of a walkathon in which nearly 100 people rowed a total of 621 miles "We hope that the money we raised will help them come back better than ever," said Steve Panzik the organization's executive director and coach MASSAPEQUA The Massapequa school district is putting a unique spin on fitness this school year to spark interest among students at an early age Raymond J. Lockhart Elementary School has introduced Myachi, a series of maneuvers done with a beanbag to boost hand-eye coordination. Fairfield Elementary School, meanwhile, is using Quidditch, a game from the "Harry Potter" movies in which kids score balls into ring-shaped goals Other nontraditional elementary-level activities include mini golf "It's about giving students the resources to explore opportunities that they may never have known existed," said Mary Elizabeth Velte a physical education teacher at Birch Lane Elementary School Many local students expressed love and appreciation for others in their community last month through various programs and activities held in celebration of Valentine's Day In the Locust Valley school district, students in Bayville Primary School created cards with personal messages for local veterans, while at Bayville Intermediate School pupils designed cards for children in Island Park who were affected by superstorm Sandy know someone would smile when they received it," kindergarten teacher Carolyn Sumcizk said In Levittown, Jonas E. Salk Middle School's National Junior Honor Society participated in Valentines for Veterans, a community service project in which students made thank-you cards for veterans undergoing treatment at Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center In Hicksville Holy Trinity High School's Junior Student Council raised $850 for the school's Sandy recovery efforts through the sale of Valentine's Day cards Nine Long Island high schools were among 129 nationwide recently named semifinalists for designation as 2013 Grammy Signature Schools by the Grammy Foundation in honor of what the organization called their "outstanding commitment to music education." Finalists will be announced later this month and receive grants of $1,000 to $10,000 to benefit their music programs Local high schools named as semifinalists were Bellport, Commack, Garden City, Great Neck South, Hewlett, Herricks, Great Neck North "Just as the Grammy Award recognizes excellence within the recording arts the Grammy Signature Schools program recognizes public high schools across the country for their dedication to providing excellent music education programs for their students," said Neil Portnow the foundation's president and chief executive The Grammy Foundation was established in 1989 Updated 16 minutes ago Officer slashed in Amity Harbor .. Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 25, 2011 Share your memories and/or express your condolences below. Fields marked with a * are required. All others are optional. Unfortunately with the need to moderate tributes for inappropriate content, your comments may take up to 48 hours to appear. Thank you for your understanding. ©2025 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved. The last few weeks have been tough for Bella Serro and his thugs unexpectedly came and took everyone hostage as the entire family was celebrating the matriarch’s birthday Serro stated unequivocally that he was out for vengeance against Nana he picked Bella out of the group and held a gun to her head she disclosed to him that Bella was his real daughter As everyone was processing this information They brought the situation under control and arrested Serro That revelation tore Bella apart and left her with more questions than answers she paid Serro a visit in prison to hear his version of the story the bond between father and daughter began to grow much to Nana’s disappointment Inspector Juma was then recruited to spy on them Juma overheard Bella confessing to her father about Kwame’s accident She had intended to kill Nana by tampering with her car breaks but Kwame ended up driving the car and died instead Nana was so enraged after hearing the statement that she wanted to kill her own daughter Bella drew close to her mother and her visits to her father in prison became less frequent Serro devised another method of severing the mother-daughter relationship He managed to get Nana to confess about the people she has killed She was shell-shocked to learn that her own mother was responsible for the deaths of Redempta’s son Leo and Fred’s girlfriend Priya This revelation enraged Bella so much that she swore to expose her mother at Jabali’s wedding What lengths will Nana go to protect her secret Be sure to follow Kina every Monday to Friday at 8:30 pm only on Maisha Magic Plus DStv 163 and GOtv Supa Ch 4 to find out Former Makutano Junction actor Patrick Serro's daughter has penned a glowing tribute to her dad Patrick Serro's daughter (right) mourns him with a touching message. Photo: Patrick Serro.Source: InstagramIs Patrick Serro dead?Serro played Dr Washington in the hit series Makutano Junction. His death is a tragedy for the entertainment industry Caroline Midimo, a friend of the late Serro, disclosed that they talked on the phone just hours before his passing PAY ATTENTION: TUKO is in WhatsApp Channels now! Subscribe and read news in favourite messenger. She shared a clip of the late actor dancing during their end-of-year office party and noted that he was so full of life His daughter also shared a touching message asking her dad to dance with the angels shared a clip of her father dancing and revealed that her father's loss left her heartbroken She disclosed that they had a close bond and he loved her till his last dying breath The lady promised to make their family name proud and asked her dad to keep dancing in heaven The family of the late Serro have not disclosed the circumstances in which the actor died In other news, the death of Mathew Nyamlori left Kenyan devastated on social media He died after a long battle with cancer and his story is one to inspire many The family of the late scholar pleaded with Kenyans to help them raise KSh 1.5 million The money would help them to give him a fitting send-off and also clear the hospital bill current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with TUKO. Enroll Now! The Kenyan entertainment industry is mourning the loss of Patrick Serro a former actor on the hit TV series Makutano Junction Serro passed away on January 25 after experiencing sudden chest pain at home shared the heartbreaking news on social media revealing that the actor had left a garage visit and gone home where he started feeling unwell while watching his past videos Ascar recounted the final moments before her brother’s untimely demise: a show that captured the hearts of many Kenyans His passing has left fans and colleagues in shock Patrick Serro’s contribution to the Kenyan entertainment industry will not be forgotten His role in Makutano Junction left an indelible mark on Kenyan television, inspiring many actors and fans alike A month ago, former Tahidi High actor Xavier Jerry Nato succumbed after a prolonged illness and kidney failure In November 2024, Nato’s family made a heartfelt financial appeal to the public as he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for specialised treatment and care His friend Job Masika described Nato as a brother are among the rarest items of South American numismatics pioneer gold issues of the California Gold Rush of 1848–1855 as they were made from natural gold that merchants and prospectors brought in to official foundries for testing Typically the ingots were subsequently sent to Europe and melted down Rarer still is each ingot’s original guia ("guide") the official one-page document produced at the foundry legalizing the ingot as currency and bearing the ingot’s number plus the foundry name and signatures of its officials at the bottom to show that the tax was paid Essentially a "birth certificate" for each ingot the guia was a fragile and somewhat unassuming piece of paper that was almost always lost or inadvertently destroyed down the line but it bore the utmost importance in establishing legitimacy and value Probably fewer than 10 surviving ingots still have their guias the present ingot is even rarer as being from the foundry of Serro Frio a relative latecomer accounting for only about 10% of the existing specimens Records indicate that about 20 foundries were opened but only 8 of them are represented among the 218 or so ingots known today They appear to have been made in smaller numbers in later years as only 8 pieces are known to exist with dates in the 1830s The extant ingots on record and their foundries are as follows A bit over half of these are in private hands; more than one third of the known pieces are permanently housed in big museums like the Museu Historico Nacional (Rio de Janeiro) the Museu Numismático do Banco do Espírito Santo (Lisbon) and even the American Numismatic Society and Smithsonian Institution in the United States only two of the 36 specimens from the Carlos Marques da Costa collection recently acquired by the Museu Numismático do Banco do Espírito Santo have original guias (Featured in the Sotheby’s auction of May 30 these 36 ingots were purchased privately and the auction was cancelled.) Many important numismatic museums and collections around the world have no Brazilian ingots at all It is also important to note that our specimen is one of only about a half-dozen surviving specimens issued under Dom Pedro II (1831-1889) "the Magnanimous," last ruler of the Empire of Brazil an entirely different government from the Portuguese monarchy under which the earlier pieces were made the accompanying guia was pre-printed in 1755 but completed and modified by hand in 1832 to reflect the new regime and rates It is hard to imagine a numismatic item with more patent history this 1832 Serro Frio ingot is the only Dom Pedro II specimen of this foundry ever offered at auction in the United States with its original guia A relatively common Sabará ingot in Eliasberg sold for $77,625 While the two specimens in the Norweb collection (1997) included a Serro Frio these rare ingots have drawn the attention admiration and study of a number of famous numismatic firms and researchers over the past century and a half The most ardent student of these bars was the numismatic scholar and author Kurt Prober who in fact once owned this very specimen in the late 1940s (more about that later) Even in their own time these ingots were considered special The idea behind these ingots was simply to monetize new gold into circulating currency and to make sure taxes were paid in the process they were subject to confiscation without notarized guias; their prescribed monetary value in réis was written on the accompanying guias and not stamped on the ingots themselves with most of its stamped markings on one side including (from left to right): circular seal bearing the arms of the Empire of Brazil; serial number N 114 above the numbers 1 — 3 — 06 for 1 onça 3 oitavas 6 grão (1 ounce 3 eighths 6 grains); fineness as "23" and "TOQUE" (meaning struck in 23 karat) above the date 1832 in incuse boxes; and an intertwined monogram AAB (for assayer Antonio Avila Bittencourt) within an incuse circle with beaded border Three ribbed lines in the fields between the stamps are security cancelations to prevent further stamping The reverse shows the round seal for the Serro Frio foundry showing the first two letters SE(RRO) at the bottom the middle punches are very sharply struck and even lustrous inside (virtually as made) once folded and now riddled with small holes in one quadrant but with all important details still readable this one shows the quantity of gold brought to the smelting house ("1 Onca e 4 Oitavas" = 1 ounce and 4 eighths) and the percentage taken by the government known as the vintena (5%) in the amount of 43-1/5 grão (grains) The owner is listed as "Joze Per(a) de Mag (es.) do P(e) Joao Sim (oes) de Sz(a) the "Rica" of the printed foundry name Villa Rica (in two places) was crossed out and overwritten with "do Ppe" for Villa do Principe The official signatures at the bottom are "Esq but the date on the document was hand-corrected to 1832 One other interesting modification is the change from the printed word "Real" (royal) to "Nacional" (national) reflecting the change to a parliamentary monarchy in 1831 is the circulating value of the ingot as "17$380," meaning 17,380 réis The first appearance of this ingot on the numismatic market was as #3709 in the 1906 catalog of the Estate of Joaquim Gomes de Souza Braga was in a sales price list from Santos Leitão e Cia of Rio Janeiro (item #79) In 1941 the bar was catalogued by Kurt Prober in his monograph Ouro em Pó e em Barras Meio Circulante no Brasil 1754-1833 (listed with its guia and plated as #423 in the 1990 edition) and in fact Prober himself acquired the ingot from Jael de Oliveira Lima in 1947 — but without its guia Oliveira found the guia in 1948 and sold it separately to Prober who had already sold the ingot without its guia to a Dr Kurt Prober then bought the bar back from Townsend and offered the newly reunited ingot and guia for sale in the price list of coin dealer Hermann Porcher in 1948 which was the last time it was publicly offered "Revising Brazilian Gold Bars," in Actas — Proceedings — Actes of the XIII Congreso Internacional de Numismática in Madrid in 2003 (coord "As Barras de Ouro do Brasil – Sua Ordenação em Catálogo," in Atas do Primeiro Congresso luso-brasileiro de Numismática Ouro em Pó e em Barras Meio Circulante no Brasil 1754-1833 "An Unpublished Specimen of Brazilian Gold Bar Currency Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC is the world’s premier specialist in the colonial coinage of Spanish America shipwreck coins and artifacts of all nations LLC sell coins and artifacts at various numismatic shows around the nation LLC also has the honor of being the only auction company in the world specializing in Authentic Treasure Auction catalogs are accessible on the web and printed in a high-quality format with full-color illustrations for all lots In addition to publishing several catalogs per year Daniel Frank Sedwick is a regular vendor at major international coin shows Sedwick worked in partnership with the late Dr who began the business in 1981 and became known as a pioneer in the field of Spanish colonial numismatics with his book The fourth (2007) and third (1995) editions of this well-known book were authored and co-authored by Daniel Sedwick who is also a contributing editor to The Numismatist Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Copyright © 2007-2025 CoinNews Media Group LLC No portion of this site may be reproduced or copied without written permission Any use outside the given permissions constitutes copyright violation All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only CoinNews makes no representations as to accuracy or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors or delays in this information or any losses or damages arising from its display or use All information is provided on an as-is basis.