Venezuela 1888 bolivar
This specimen was lot 34638 in Heritage sale 3135 (Pittsburgh, September 2026), where it sold for $2,440. The catalog description[1] noted, "Venezuela: Republic Bolivar 1888-(c) AU Details (Cleaned) NGC, Caracas mint. A scarce date in the series, known for its conditional sensitivity. To be found in an AU is no small feat, as seen by its small certified population. Well-struck detail remains." 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 denomination is shown on the reverse as GRAM.5.
Recorded mintage: 197,000, the key date.
Specification: 5 g, 0.835 fine silver, 23 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-Y22, Stohr-47, OAV-1B-A.4.
- 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.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2026 September 1 - 5 ANA World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction #3135, featuring The Vila Rica Collection of Brazilian Gold Coins, Part II, and The Grundy Collection of Latin American and Spanish Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2026.
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