Banknotes in Bolívares : Banco de Venezuela : Numismatic Catalog of Venezuela

Banco Caracas Banco Central de Venezuela Banco Colonial Británico Banco Comercial Banco Comercial de Maracaibo Banco de Carabobo Banco de Carácas Banco de Londres y Venezuela Banco de Maracaibo Banco de Venezuela

Banco de Venezuela (first) Banco Mercantil y Agrícola Banco Nacional de Venezuela Banco Venezolano de Crédito Billete de Tesorería Compañía de Accionistas Compañía de Crédito Distrito Federal Estado de Guayana Estados Unidos de Venezuela

Ministerio de Sanidad y Asistencia Social República de Venezuela

Information about Banco de Venezuela and the Monetary Unit Bolívar

Historical overview

Banco de Venezuela was founded in 1890, as a result of a reform of Banco Comercial and merging of Banco de Carabobo. This bank was the biggest banknote issuer with nationwide acceptance before the creation of the National Bank in 1940.

Monetary Unit Name

Bolívar of Silver (1879-1918)
Bolívar of Gold (1918-1974)
Bolívar (1974-2007)

Monetary System

100 Céntimos = 1 Bolívar

Time Period

From 1879 through December 31st 2007, which has been replaced by "Bolívar Fuerte".

Monetary equivalence

5 Céntimos = 1 Centavo (Venezolano)
1 Bolívar = 20 Centavo (Venezolano)
5 Bolívares = 1 Venezolano
1000 Bolívares = 1 Bolívar Fuerte

20 Bolívares

Photo from piece bbdv20bs-ca04-6

Banknotes of 20 Bolívares

Design A, Type A
(1890)
Design B, Type A
189__
(1897)
Design B, Type B
19__
(1907)
Design B, Type C
189__, overprint of capitalization amount "CAPITAL Bs. 12.000.000"
(1897)
Design B, Type D
19__, overprint of the payment clause "Pagaderos en las oficinas del Banco".
(1907)
Design C, Type A
2 signatures
(1924), 1925, 1926, 1928
Design C, Type B
3 signatures
(1910)
Design C, Type C
3 signatures, "EN CARACAS" black out, overprint with the payment clause "PAGADEROS EN LAS OFICINAS DEL BANCO".
(1910), 1919
Design C, Type D
3 signatures, "EN CARACAS" black out, overprint with the payment clause "PAGADEROS EN LAS OFICINAS DEL BANCO", overprint with the capitalization amount.
(1910), 1923
Design D, Type A
(1928), 1930, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939

40 Bolívares

Photo from piece bbdv40bs-aas

Banknotes of 40 Bolívares

Design A, Type A
(1890)

50 Bolívares

Photo from piece bbdv50bs-bb08-6

Banknotes of 50 Bolívares

Design A, Type A
(1897)
Design B, Type B
(1926), 1929, 1930, 1931, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939
Design C, Type A
(1924), 1925, 1926

100 Bolívares

Photo from piece bbdv100bs-ea16-6

Banknotes of 100 Bolívares

Design A, Type A
(1890)
Design B, Type A
(1897)
Design B, Type B
(1907)
Design C, Type A
3 signers
(1910)
Design C, Type B
3 signers, overprint "PAGADERO EN LAS OFICINAS DEL BANCO" «Payment to the bearer at the bank offices», words "EN CARACAS" blacked out.
(1910), 1914
Design C, Type C
3 signers, "PAGADEROS AL PORTADOR EN LAS OFICINAS DEL BANCO"
(1916), 1918, (1919), 1924
Design C, Type D
3 signers, capital "24.000.000"
1921, 1928
Design C, Type E
2 signers, capital "24.000.000"
(1924), 1930
Design E, Type A
(1931), 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1939

500 Bolívares

Photo from piece bbdv500bs-das

Banknotes of 500 Bolívares

Design A, Type A
(1890)
Design B, Type A
(1897)
Design B, Type B
(1907)
Design C, Type A
"que se pagarán al portador en Carácas á la presentacion"
(1910), (1913)
Design C, Type B
"PAGADEROS AL PORTADOR EN LAS OFICINAS DEL BANCO"
(1916), (1918)
Design C, Type C
"CAPITAL Bs. 24.000.000"
(1921)
Design C, Type D
2 signers
(1924), 1924
Design D, Type A
(1934), 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939

1000 Bolívares

Photo from piece bbdv1000bs-da01-4

Banknotes of 1000 Bolívares

Design A, Type A
(1890), (1891)
Design B, Type A
(1897)
Design C, Type A
(1926)
Design D, Type A
(1934), 1936

Recommended bibliography

Banknotes of Venezuela by Richard Rosenman.
Latin American Bank Note Records by Ricardo Magan.