The science that handles the study of these interesting metallic pieces, numismatics, relates directly to the history of a country and the heraldry, always looking to understand and explain the peculiarities and the reasons for the minting of the coins. From a different point of view, numismatics is in turn, a strong support for the researcher, who many times will find in them the proof for their thesis.
Documental science and historic witness on one side, cultural leisure and a collectible item on the other, numismatics is also investment and has a certain value when the point of view is more commercial, distinguishing itself from other investments in art and culture due to its liquidity.

The Herculano Pires Museum of Itaú Numismatica is one of a kind and it is structured to receive both specialized public and general public, offering the needed information to all sorts of cultural interests and age groups.

The visits can be individual or monitored; in this case groups of 10 to 20 people, previously set up, in Portuguese or English.

The presentation begins with an informative video, calling to the attention of the participants the relevant points of numismatics and the history of Brazil, which is told in 32 modules, chronologically displayed, giving notability to important issues, documented by coins, medals and badges of honor.
Each module presents in its superior part, a panel with the image of the governor, coat of arms and flag of the time, as well as social-political and economical information of the period. In the central part of the displays you have the coins, medals and badges of honor, together with numismatic information. The lower part of the display shows the iconography of the Portuguese/Brazilian city through engravings, paintings and pictures. Each module is accompanied by soundtrack of music of the period.

This way the visitors of a group, go through 500 years of Brazil’s history in 40 minutes itineraries, which can be abbreviated to 30 minutes or increased to 100 minutes, all according to the details the group has most interest in.
With the purpose of putting the spectator in universal time, the displays have on its base a chronological tape, presenting the main historical, political and social events of Brazil and Portugal specially, and of the world in general, embracing the space of time between the years 1500 and 2000.
For the specialists, a round table shows around 236"patacões", an ancient Portuguese copper coin, allowing for detailed observation through a powerful Leica lens which enlargens objects up to 40 times.