Venezuela 1876-A venezolano
Though Venezuela declared independence in 1810 and fully routed Spanish troops from the region by 1821, it was not until the dissolution of Gran Colombia in 1830 that Venezuela became fully a sovereign nation. The first republican coinage was denominated in centavos and reales. After the first coinage reform of 1871, the denomination real was abandoned in the transition to the decimal system, being replaced by venezolano, such that 100 centavos = 1 venezolano. The official title of the country from 1864 was 'Estados Unidos de Venezuela', a name it would carry until 1953, when the constitution mandated a return to the name 'Republica de Venezuela'.
The first specimen was lot 13925 in Heritage sale 339 (Orlando, January 2004), where it sold for $3,680. The catalog description[1] noted, "Republic. Venezolano 1876A, AU 58 NGC, an exceptionally rare and popular type in high grade. This example is fully lustrous and very boldly struck with just a scattering of very light surface marks on the reverse....From the Morris Geiger Collection." It is a rare one year type struck in Paris. It was replaced by a five bolivares struck at various mints 1879-1936. The second specimen was lot 21967 and sold on Aug 13, 2010 at the 2010 August Boston, MA Signature ANA World Coin Auction #3010, for $3,220. The auction catalog description reads:
"Republic Venezolano 1876A, XF45 PCGS, lightly toned and fully original with traces of luster in the legends and sharply struck details. The surfaces display a light scattering of contact marks, but this is a superior example of the type and certainly among the better pieces known."
Recorded mintage: 35,000.
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, .723 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: KM Y16.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Elizondo, Carlos A., Eight Reales and Pesos of the New World, San Antonio, TX: 1968.
- Raymond, Wayte, The Silver Dollars of North and South America, 2nd Ed., Racine, WI: Whitman Publishing, 1964.
- Stohr, Tomas, El Circulante en la Capitania General de Venezuela, Caracas, Banco Central de Venezuela, 1998.
Link to: