Venezuela 1903 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 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 1903 half bolivar, minted in Philadelphia. The denomination is shown on the reverse as GR.2,500. It was lot 21962 on Aug 13, 2010 at the 2010 August Boston, MA Signature ANA World Coin Auction #3010 where it sold for $1610. The catalog description reads: "Republic 1/2 Bolivar 1903, XF45 NGC, considerable mint luster, primarily on the reverse, very scarce date in this quality."
Recorded mintage: 200,000.
Specifications: 2.5 g, 0.835 fine silver, 0.0671 oz ASW.
Catalog reference: Y 21.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Stohr, Tomas, El Circulante en la Capitania General de Venezuela, Caracas, Banco Central de Venezuela, 1998.
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