Purpose: The aim of the research is the investigation of the structure, texture and chemical composition of coatings deposited by PVD technique (reactive dc magnetron sputtering method) onto the substrate from the CuZn40Pb2 brass.Design/methodology/approach: Microstructure was characterised using optical metallography, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Changes of the chemical composition of the coatings were examinations made on the glow discharge optical spectrometer (GDOS).Findings: The hard PVD coatings deposited by reactive dc magnetron sputtering method demonstrate structure composed of fine crystallites. In case of the monolayer coatings the columnar structure occurs. Examinations of the PVD coating textures reveal that in most cases they have the binary textures.Research limitations/implications: In order to evaluate with more detail the possibility of applying these coatings in tools, further investigations should be concentrated on the determination of the mechanical and tribological properties of the coatings.Originality/value: The paper contributes to better understanding and recognition the structure of thin coatings deposited by PVD techniques.