Stories of Paraná - The incredible case of coins

Stories of Paraná - The incredible case of coins

The incredible case of coins
Leonardo Henrique dos Santos

"Same to you, here there are already 10 000."
In the pioneering era of Londrina, a sign with that phrase with double meaning, for a long time remained planted at the entrance of the city - both could be seen as an invitation to solidarity arriving, willing to grow along with the city, as a warning to those who came with the purpose of deceiving those who worked.
In fact, both interpretations made sense.
London really attracted crowds of Brazilians and foreigners, who came determined to irrigate the land with its purple sweat. And in the wake of them also came, attracted by the fame of the city where the money ran loose, rogues of all carats.
In the early '70s, the plate with the phrase challenging it was just a memory in the memory of the pioneer generations, but also nothing more than vague memories the "stories" of blows worthy of screenplays - Londrina had ceased to be the legendary " Capital World Café ".
In mid 1972, begin to appear on bar tables and casters in "stone", boring detailers who insisted on pointing as evidence of forgery, almost imperceptible differences between coins 50 cents should be identical. The conversation was almost always ended with the intervention of some "expert" who pontificated:
- That's impossible.
Nobody falsify currencies because the unit cost would be higher than its legal value. The government does because they are necessary, but has injury ...
Except that, after some time, the coins in circulation in the city began to "fade" and then no one else had doubts: someone was minting coins in copper and subjecting them to a bath of nickel, which resisted for a few months but ended up wearing. And the production was in high scale, because the false coins flooded Londrina and spread through towns across the region.
The Federal Police had the greatest difficulty in getting to the "artist" who had installed an authentic "branch of the Mint" in a country house - a young elegant and fine appearance, who regularly visited retailers in the city, always in a suit and tie and aboard a gleaming Dodge Dart, offering bags of coins in exchange for notes. Only missing leaving card.
The reaction of the public when the case exploded and amazing forger was arrested, revealed that the city was still able to admire a clever scam. Only heard recriminations of the fact the "purse" have been so careless:
- Have you ever seen, go around Dodge Dart exchanging coins! He had to impersonate strawman, or something ...
- If he drops the coins in Sao Paulo, they would never catch him ...
The old board had been lost in time, but its still worth warning message - no one should get Londrina believing that he is smarter because the city actually existed all.
Even someone capable of a crime so unbelievable how fake coins 50 cents ... and make a profit!

Leonardo Henrique dos Santos, journalist


Source: Stories of Paraná, Brasil.