Venezuela 1919 2 bolivares
Venezuela fully adopted a decimal coinage system in 1871, with 100 centavos = one venezuelano. By 1879, denominations were renamed centimos and bolivares, such that 100 centimos = one 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'. This specimen was lot 34673 in Heritage sale 3042 (Long Beach, September 2015), where it sold for $446.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Republic 2 Bolivares 1919 AU58 PCGS. Lightly toned with distinctive original luster. A scarce type this close to mint state." This specimen, from a type issued 1879, 1886-89, 1894, 1900-13, 1919-30, 1935-36, is a product of the Philadelphia mint and is a better date. It was struck to the module of the French two francs.
Recorded mintage: 1,000,000.
Specifications: 10 g, 0.835 fine silver, 0.269 oz ASW.
Catalog reference: KM-Y23.
- 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.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World Coin Auction 3042, featuring the Read and Bob Bennett Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2015.
Link to: