Venezuela 1921 1/4 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'. Silver fractionals and multiples of bolivares did not possess the name of the denomination. Instead, the weight of the coin and silver fineness is listed on the side with the coat of arms.
Shown is a 1921 quarter bolivar, minted in Philadelphia. The obverse features the portrait of Simon Bolivar, recognized as liberator of the Venezuelans from rule by the Spanish. The reverse features the coat of arms, and the denomination written as GR.1.250, which is one quarter the weight of a one bolivar coin. The SCWC lists "high 2" and "low 2" varieties but awards no premium to either. This specimen was lot 1261 in Sedwick sale 10 (Winter Park, FL, October 2011), where it sold for $63.25. The catalog description[1] noted, "Venezuela, 1/4 bolivar, 1921. Cleaned AU-, starting to re-tone."
Recorded mintage: 800,000.
Specifications: 1.24 g, 0.835 fine silver, 0.0336 ASW, this specimen 1.3 grams.
Catalog reference: Y 20.
- 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]Sedwick, Daniel F., Augi Garcia and Cori Sedwick Downing, Treasure Auction #10, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC, 2011.
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