Venezuela 1888 2 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 1888 two bolivares, minted in Caracas. The denomination is shown on the reverse as GRAM.10. It was lot 29281 in Heritage sale 3012 (Orlando, FL, January, 2011) where it sold for $1,610. The catalog description reads: "Republic 2 Bolivares 1888, XF40 details, scratched ANACS, a scarce date, and seldom offered."
Recorded mintage: 141,000.
Specifications: 10 g, 0.835 fine silver, 0.2695 oz ASW.
Catalog reference: Y 23.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Stohr, Tomas, Catalogo de Monedas, Ensayos, Fichas y Resellos de Venezuela, Caracas, 1975.
Link to: