Venezuela 1900 1/2 bolivar
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 5 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 1900 half bolivar, minted in Paris. The denomination is shown on the reverse as GR.2,500. It was lot 25233 on Jan 3, 2012 at the Heritage Auctions 2012 January 2-3 World & Ancient Coins Signature Auction – New York #3016 where it sold for $1,150. The catalog description[1] reads: "Republic 1/2 Bolivar 1900, AU58 NGC Norweb Collection, with Paris privy marks, deeply toned and attractive, a fully original coin and very close to mint state. Rarely seen in this grade."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 2.5 g, 0.835 fine silver, 0.0671 oz ASW.
Catalog reference: KM Y21.
- 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, Cristiano Bierrenbach and Scott Cordry, Heritage sale 3016, World and Ancient Coins, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2011.
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