Venezuela 1887 100 bolivares
Venezuela fully adopted a decimal coinage system in 1871, with 100 centavos = 1 venezuelano. By 1879, denominations were renamed centimos and bolivares, such that 100 centimos = 1 bolivar. A crown was equivalent to five bolivares. 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'.
Shown is a 1887 100 bolivares, minted in Caracas. The denomination is shown on the reverse as GR.32,2580. It was lot 25037 in Heritage sale 3014 (Chicago, April 2011) where it sold for $2,530. The catalog description[1] read: "Republic gold 100 Bolivares 1887, AU55 NGC, considerable mint luster, typical small surface marks."
Recorded mintage: 28,000.
Specifications: 32.258 g, 0.900 fine gold, 0.9334 oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Y 34.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Stohr, Tomas, El Circulante en la Capitania General de Venezuela, Caracas, Banco Central de Venezuela, 1998.
- [1]Tucker, Warren, and Scott Cordry, Heritage Signature Auction 3014: World Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2011.
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