Venezuela 1925 12-1/2 centimos
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 = 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'. Shown is a 1925 12½ centimos, minted in Philadelphia. The obverse features the coat of arms, with the denomination enclosed by a wreath on the reverse. This specimen was lot 30697 in Heritage sale 3042 (Long Beach, September 2015), where it sold for $1,292.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Republic 12-1/2 Centimos 1925 MS62 NGC, Philadelphia mint. Brilliant Mint State with light surface abrasions preventing a higher designation. The key date of the issue, rare in this fine preservation. The ex. Dana Roberts piece graded MS63 NGC sold for $1,955 in our CICF 2011 Signature Sale (Heritage Auctions 4/2011, lot 25019)."
Recorded mintage: 800,000.
Specifications: copper-nickel.
Catalog reference: KM Y28.
- 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.
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