CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICAN
COINS & CURRENCY
ARGENTINA
COMMEMORATES OIL
Argentina
issued this 2007 2 Pesos coin to commemorate the 100th
anniversary of the nations petroleum industry.
One side pictures an oil well, the other side depicts an oil pump and
the name of the province “Chubut” where oil was discovered and is the
heart of the countries petroleum industry. Oil was discovered in 1907,
when a crew drilling for water, struck oil instead. In recent years the
country has turned from a net exporter of energy to a net importer.
Government price controls on energy and expropriations have dried up
exploration and investment in the petroleum industry despite the
country having potentially huge energy reserves. The 30mm
copper-nickel coin is Uncirculated.
Item
AR-07OIL ARGENTINA 2 PESOS 2007 100th
ANNIVERSARY OF OIL INDUSTRY, KM145 UNC. $4.00
ARGENTINA
CELEBRATES A NEW CONSTITUTION
In
1994 Argentina implemented a major constitutional reform. The new
constitution was designed to end previous abuses by increasing the
protection of political and consumer rights, adding sections dealing
with public ethics, environmental protection and limiting the power and
term of the President. These pure nickel 2 and 5 Peso coins
were issued to commemorate the event. Both 1994 dated coins
have the same design. The obverse features the Argentine
Coat-of-Arms, the names of the two cities that hosted the
Constitutional Convention, Parana and Santa Fe, and the arms of the two
cities. The reverse represents the Constitution as an open
book, with the first words of the preamble depicted.
Item
AR-CONST ARGENTINA 2 & 5 PESO 1994
CONSTITUTION, KM114-115 XF-UNC.
$6.00
BEAUTIFUL OLD
BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED
BOLIVIAN COINS
This
Brilliant Uncirculated three coin set from Bolivia includes the
copper-nickel 1935 5 Centavos, 1936 10 Centavos and the 1939 50
Centavos. The obverses of the coins depict the Bolivian arms
which feature the Potosi mountain silver mine and an alpaca.
The reverses have a caduceus, the denomination and date. The
5 and 50 Centavos were struck only a single year. It is an attractive,
old set in top condition.
Item BO-SET3 BOLIVIA 3 COIN SET 5, 10
& 50 CENTAVOS,
1935-1939 BU $19.50
BOLIVIA
COMMEMORATES THEIR LOSS OF ACCESS TO THE PACIFIC
The War of the Pacific started as a dispute over the taxing of bird
poop! The war broke out in 1879 over a treaty dispute about
Bolivia’s ability to raise taxes on a Chilean company mining bird guano
in the Atacama Desert. Chile defeated the combined forces of
Bolivia and Peru. Bolivia lost their corridor to the Pacific
Ocean and Peru lost its southern tip to Chile. Since then the loss of
the territories has been a rallying cry by politicians seeking to draw
attention away from domestic problems. In 2017 Bolivia
released a set of four 2 Bolivianos commemorating the loss of their
Pacific territory. The 11-sided 2mm stainless steel coins
have Bolivia’s arms on one side and the following designs on the
other: Genoveva Ríos was a young teen-age girl who bravely
saved the Bolivian flag from Chilean troops. Eduardo Abaroa
is one of Bolivia’s foremost heroes in the war. He died in
the Battle of Topáter. Outnumbered and low in ammunition,
most of the Bolivian force withdrew, except for a small group of
civilians led by Abaroa that fought to the end. The Bolivian
Colorados Regiment fought bravely in many of the battles of the
war. The Port of Cobija was Bolivia’s main seaport
on the Pacific. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1868,
destroyed again by a tsunami in 1877, annexed by Chile in 1884 and
abandoned in 1907.
Item BO-SET4 BOLIVIA SET OF FOUR 2
BOLIVIANOS 2017
UNC.
$19.50
For more War of the
Pacific items please see:
THE BIRD POOP TAX
WAR - THE WAR OF THE PACIFIC
BEAUTIFUL,
BIG, OLD, BRAZIL RAILWAY COMPANY STOCK CERTIFICATE
This big and beautiful Brazil Railway Company stock certificate
features an attractive vignette of a passenger train crossing a
bridge. The 1 Ordinary Share $100 bearer certificate measures
14”x 9.5”(36 x 23cm) and includes an attached full sheet of 40
coupons. The certificate is dated 1911 and is in both English
and French. The Brazil Railway Company, headquartered in
Portland, Maine controlled almost half of the railways in Brazil prior
to 1917. It was part of an international consortium
of companies operated by American financier Percival Farquhar which
controlled railways, steel mills, cattle ranches, mines and other
industries in the United States, Latin America and Russia that was
largely financed by European investors. His empire crumbled
when World War I cut off his main source of financing and
resources. In 1917 most of the companies lines were
nationalized. Its last line was nationalized in
1938. The certificate was printed by Waterloo & Sons,
Ltd. in London and bears Farquhar’s facsimile
signature. It is an impressive and historic stock
certificate.
Item STK-BRAZIL BRAZIL RAILWAY COMPANY STOCK
CERTIFICATE, 1 SHARE, 1911 XF-AU
$20.00
BRAZIL SET FEATURES
PROFESSIONS
This
short-lived 4 coin set from Brazil features Brazilians engaged in their
daily work. The 1 Centavo depicts a farmer and cows.
A fisherman and two fish is on the 5 Centavos. A
miner and three diamonds is on the 10 Centavos. The 50
Centavos depicts what appears to be a weaver making cloth.
The coins were introduced in 1989 as part of a currency
reform, in which 1000 of the old Cruzados became worth 1 Crozado Novo.
Inflation continued out of controll and the coins were soon
worthless. In 1990 Brazil introduced another reform and
Cruzado Nova was replaced by the Cruzeiro. All four coins
are made of Stainless Steel and feature the denomination on the
obverse. It is an inexpensive and attractive Brilliant Uncirculated set.
Item BR-SET89 BRAZIL 4 COIN SET 1 - 50
CENTAVOS 1989-90 KM611-614 BU $3.00
BRAZILIAN
RIO OLYMPIC COINS
Brazil
released a series of circulating commemorative
bi-metalic 1 Real coins to commemorate the 2016 Olympic Games and
Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Sixteen 1 Real
coins depicting various
Olympic and Paralympic sports were released starting in 2014.
The four 2014 issues depict track, swimming, golf and the
para-triathalon. Eight coins were released in 2015 featuring
basketball, swimming, rugby, Paralympic canoeing, soccer, volleyball,
judo and Paralympic track. Four 2016 coins have been
released, depicting boxing, Paralympic mascot Tom, Olympic Mascot
Vinicius and Paralympic swimming. All the coins
have a common reverse which includes the date, denomination and a motif
from the Brazilian flag that features the Southern Cross
constellation. The 27mm bi-metallic coins
have a stainless steel center and a bronze-plated steel outer
ring. All coins are Brilliant Uncirculated.
Item
BR-SET16 BRAZIL SET OF 16 OLYMPIC 1 REAL
COINS, 2014-2016, BU
$65.00
SCARCE SILVER
OLYMPIC COINS FROM BRAZIL
Brazil issued a series of beautiful sterling silver Proof 5 Reais coins
to commemorate the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro. The
40mm coins have a mintage of only 25,000 each, contain .803 troy ounces
of silver and come sealed in special capsules. We have the
following issues available: 2015 featuring rowing at Lagoa Rodrigo de
Freitas on the obverse and orchids on the reverse. 2015 depicting beach
volleyball on Copacabana on the obverse and a Chorinho band playing a
guitar, tambourine, ukulele and flute on the reverse. They
are popular, hard-to-find, host country silver Olympic coins.
Item
BR-ORCHID BRAZIL SILVER 5 REAIS 2015 OLYMPIC
ROWING / ORCHIDS, PROOF $50.00
Item
BR-BAND BRAZIL SILVER 5 REAIS 2015 OLYMPIC
BEACH VOLLEYBALL / BAND $60.00
COINS FROM
COLOMBIA FEATURES ANIMALS, BI-METALLICS
Colombia introduced an attractive new series of circulating
coins
featuring wildlife and plants. The bi-metallic 1000
Pesos features a loggerhead turtle. The obverse features a
latent image that shifts between "MIL" and "BRC". Below is
microtext that translates as "taking care of water". The
bi-metallic 500 Pesos depicts a crystal frog. A Scarlet Macaw
is on the 200 Pesos. The 100 Pesos features a Frailejón
plant. A Spectacled Bear is on the 50 Pesos. The coins are
dated
2012 or 2013 and ar Uncirculated.
Item S-CO-SET5 COLOMBIA 5 COIN SET, 50 –
1000 PESOS 2012-13, UNC. $8.50
MEXICAN COINS AND
BANKNOTES NOW HAVE THEIR OWN PAGE:
COINS
AND CURRENCY OF MEXICO
NICARAGUA
COIN FEATURES OLD NATIONAL
EMBLEM
The
emblem of the long defunct Central American Republic, featuring a
radiant sun-face rising over five mountain peaks appears on the reverse
of this 1954 Nicaragua 50 Centavos. Nicaragua based their
national arms on the emblem. The obverse features Francisco
Hernández de Córdoba, a Spanish conquistador who is the founder of
Nicaragua and for whom their currency is named. He
established the Nicaraguan cities of Granada and León in 1524. The 26mm
copper-nickel coin has a lettered edge and is Uncirculated.
It has a catalog value of $15.00, however, our price is MUCH less.
Item
NI-19 NICARAGUA 50 CENTAVOS 1954 KM19a
BU $8.00
PANAMA 1953 50th
ANNIVERSARY CENTESIMO
Panama celebrated the 50th Anniversary of its
independence in 1953 with the striking of this commemorative 1
Centesimo
coin. One side pictures native chief Urraca, who helped Panama gain its
independence from Spain in 1821, before it joined the Colombian
Federation. The reverse shows the date and denomination. Panama gained
its independence from Colombia in 1903 with the help of the United
States, after Colombia rejected a treaty with the United States to
build a canal across the isthmus. The bronze 1 Centesimo has the same
composition and dimensions as the United States cent and has a mintage
of 1.5 Million. The coin is Uncirculated, though may be slightly toned.
Item
PA-17 PANAMA 1 CENTESIMO 1953 KM17 UNC. $3.00
PANAMA’S MEDICAL
COMMEMORATIVES
Panama released two circulating commemorative 1/4 Balboa coins in
2008. One is for Breast Cancer Awareness and features a
ribbon. The other commemorates the 50th anniversary of the
Children’s Hospital in Panama City and pictures the hospital.
Both feature the Panamanian arms on the obverse.
Item
PA-BRST PANAMA 1/4 BALBOA 2008 BREAST CANCER
KM137 BU $2.00
Item
PA-CHILD PANAMA 1/4 BALBOA 2008 CHILDREN'S
HOSPITAL KM138 BU $2.00
PANAMA
CELEBRATES CANAL
Panama recently released a circulating multi-color quarter Balboa
commemorating the nation's famous canal. One side of the coin
features a colorized circle depicting a pair of workers digging on the
canal. Massive steam shovels and their gear teeth also appear
in the design. The obverse features Panama's coat-of-arms.
The coins, struck by the Royal Canadian Mint, are the same size and
metallic composition as a United States quarter
dollar. We also have available the 2000 dated 1
Centesimo struck to commemorate the canal, the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the beginning of the 21st
century. The 22.8mm aluminum coin depicts a ship passing
through the canal on one side and the national arms on the other.
Item
PA-25C-CANAL PANAMA 1/4 BALBOA 2016 CANAL
(COLOR) BU $5.00
Item
PA-1C-CANAL PANAMA 1 CENTESIMO 2000 CANAL-FAO,
KM132 BU $3.00
BI-METALLIC COLORED RED CROSS
COINS FROM PANAMA
Panama issued colored commemorative 1 Balboa coins in 2017 and 2018 to
commemorate the Centennial of the Panamanian Red Cross. The
2017 features a red cross against a white background. The
2018 issue has a colorized image of a rescuer in a boat holding a Red
Cross flag. Both are 26.5mm bi-metallic coins featuring the
arms of Panama on the obverse. The National Bank of Panama is
giving the profits from the issuance of the coins to the Panamanian Red
Cross.
Item
PA-17REDCROSS PANAMA 1 BALBOA 2017 RED CROSS -
CROSS, COLOR COIN, UNC.
$4.75
Item
PA-18REDCROSS PANAMA 1 BALBOA 2018 RED CROSS -
FLAG, COLOR COIN, UNC.
$5.50
WITH HEROES LIKE
THESE, WHO NEEDS VILLAINS
This
seven coin set from Paraguay features some of the nations top heroes.
With heroes like these it is little wonder that the country has
suffered so greatly over the years. The 1000 Guaranies pictures
Francisco Solano Lopez, a 19th century megalomaniac whose rule nearly
destroyed his country. He ruled the country as his own personal
property, at one time he transferred most land in the country to his
mistress. Fearful of any potential opposition, ordered the executions
of his own brothers and had his mother and sisters tortured. He ordered
the executions of cabinet ministers,
judges, bishops, priests and most of the civil officers. He also
attempted to have himself canonized by the local bishops. He started
wars with Brazil and Argentina, known as the War of the Triple
Alliance, which resulted in the near total destruction of his country,
loss of vast amounts of territory as well as the loss of over half of
its population. Some have estimated that up to 90% of the male
population died as a result of the war. The reveres pictures the
National Heroes Pantheon. The 500 Guaranies pictures General Bernardino
Caballero. In 1881 he organized a coup to become President. He fathered
90 children outside of marriage. In 1886 he rigged the elections to
assure his favored candidate would be chosen, and founded the Colorado
party. The reverse pictures the Central Bank of Paraguay. The 100
Guaranies pictures General Jose E. Diaz, a hero of the War of the
Triple Alliance, who died in battle. He was promoted to General an hour
before his death. The reverse pictures Ruins of Humaita, The 50 Guarani
depicts Major General José Félix Estigarribia. A military hero for his
victory over Bolivia in the Chaco War, he was elected President in
1939. Six months later he suspended the constitution, dissolved the
legislature and granted himself broad powers. In 1940 he died in an
airplane crash. The reverse pictures the Acaray River Dam. The 10
Guarani depicts General Eugenio Alejandrino Garay, who lead several
successful battles in the Chaco War despite his advanced age, and who
was an accomplished journalist. The reverse pictures a cow. A generic
Paraguayan woman holding a pot is on the 5 Guarani and a Paraguayan
soldier is on the 1 Guarani. The top four denominations are dated 2007
or 2008, while the lower three denominations are brass-colored and are
dated 1992 to 1996. All seven coins are Brilliant Uncirculated.
Item
PY-SET7 PARAGUAY 7 COIN SET 1 - 1000
GUARANIES, 1992-2008, KM166a,192,178a,191b,177b,195a,198 BU $9.50
THE BIRD POOP TAX
WAR - THE WAR OF THE PACIFIC
It seems almost anything
can trigger a deadly war. The War of
the Pacific, also known as "The Saltpeter War" is an example
of this. In 1878 Bolivia decided to
levy a new tax of 10 Centavo per hundred pounds on bird droppings
(guano) mined by a Chilean company in Bolivia. Guano was an important
source of nitrates used for fertilizer, gunpowder and
explosives. The tax violated an 1874 treaty between Bolivia
and Chile, so Chile declared war on Bolivia in 1879. Under
the terms of a secret 1873 mutual defense pact Peru was obligated to
come to the assistance of Bolivia. By 1884 both Peru and
Bolivia were defeated by the smaller, but better equipped and
organized Chilean army. Over 25,000 men died in the conflict. As a
result of the war Bolivia became a land-locked nation, losing its
territory on the Pacific to Chile. Peru lost their southernmost
territory to Chile and almost collapsed. The dispute between Chile and
Peru was not finally settled until 1929, 50 years after the war
started.
Bolivia still today
claims sovereignty over the territory it lost 140 years
earlier. The following numismatic items
are all related to The War of the Pacific.
PERUVIAN
SILVER MEDAL
CLAIMS PART OF CHILE!
Peruvian
dictator Augusto Bernardino Leguia issued this silver medalette as part
of Peru’s Fiestas Patrias Great Military Parade Day in 1925.
The medalette calls for the return of El Morro Arica, which Peru lost
to Chile, along with the surrounding territory, 45 years earlier in the
War of the Pacific.
Since then the two nations had numerous unfruitful negotiations over
the status of the territories. Recovery of the lost territory
had long been a rallying point for Peruvian politicians. The
obverse depicts the coastal mountain El Morro Arica. It is the most
recognizable landmark in the area. Above it is the legend
"RECUPERAR EL MORRO"
(Recover El Morro) and
"A.B.LEGUIA".
In exergue is the date of the
event:
"29 JULIO 1925"
The reverse has the legend
"JUNTA
PATRIOTICA NACIONAL". In 1929 the two nations
finally came to
a formal agreement, El Morro and Arica province remained part of
Chile. The 22.8mm silver medal weighs 5.5 grams and
was made with a small hole at the top in order to suspend it from a
hanger or ribbon. The medalette is Uncirculated, though may
show some slight friction or bag marks. It is an unusual and
rarely seen piece.
Item PE-MEDAL PERU EL MORRO ARICA SILVER
MEDALETTE, 1925 $9.50
ADMIRAL
GRAU MONUMENT TOKEN FROM
PERU
Admiral
Miguel Grau is one of Peru's most honored heroes for his actions in The
War of The Pacific. Grau repeatedly attacked the
vastly superior Chilean
navy, severely disrupting the Chilean lines of supply and
communication. He captured or damaging a number of Chilean vessels. He
was called the "Gentleman of the Seas" for his chivalrous treatment of
his enemies. He was killed in action in October 1879. In 1934
Peru decided to build monuments honoring Admiral Grau in the cities of
Lima and Piura, the city where he was born. This copper 20
Centavos token was struck to help raise funds to build the
monuments. The 20mm token features the arms of Peru
and the legend "
FONDOS
PRO MONUMENTOS GRAU" (Money for Grau Monument). The other
side features the denomination and the date October 8, 1935.
Item PE-GRAUTKN PERU 20 CENTAVOS GRAU
MONUMENT TOKEN 1935
AU-UNC $7.50
ADMIRAL
GRAU ON PERUVIAN
COINS
In 1985 Peru instituted a
major monetary reform and introduced a new
monetary unit called the Inti to replace the heavily inflated Sol at a
rate of 1000
Soles to 1 Inti. Inti was the name of the Inca sun
god. This six coin set includes the 5, 10, 20, 50 Centimos 1 &
5 Intis dating between 1985 and 1988. All six coins depict
the same portrait of
Admiral Grau. The coins did not last long. Due to continued
inflation the Inti was replaced in 1991 at a rate of 1 Million Intis
to 1 New Sol.
Item PE-SET85 PERU 6 COIN SET 5 CENTIMOS - 5
INTIS
1985-88 UNC. $7.50
BOLIVIA
COMMEMORATES THEIR LOSS OF ACCESS TO THE PACIFIC
Ever since Bolivia's loss
of its
Pacific coast in the War of the Pacific in 1879, Bolivian politicians
have have used it as a rallying cry to draw
attention away from domestic problems. In 2017 Bolivia
released a set of four 2 Bolivianos commemorating the loss of their
Pacific territory. The 11-sided 2mm stainless steel coins
have Bolivia’s arms on one side and the following designs on the
other: Genoveva Ríos was a young teen-age girl who bravely
saved the Bolivian flag from Chilean troops. Eduardo Abaroa
is one of Bolivia’s foremost heroes in the war. He died in
the Battle of Topáter. Outnumbered and low in ammunition,
most of the Bolivian force withdrew, except for a small group of
civilians led by Abaroa that fought to the end. The Bolivian
Colorados Regiment fought bravely in many of the battles of the
war. The Port of Cobija was Bolivia’s main seaport
on the Pacific. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1868,
destroyed again by a tsunami in 1877, annexed by Chile in 1884 and
abandoned in 1907.
Item BO-SET4 BOLIVIA SET OF FOUR 2
BOLIVIANOS 2017
UNC.
$19.50
400th
ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIMA MINT
Peru issued this attractive five coin set in 1965 to commemorate the
400th anniversary of the founding of the Lima mint. The mint,
founded in 1565, produced thousands of tons of silver and gold coins,
most of which were shipped to Spain or used in trade in the
Orient. The five coin set includes the 5, 10, 25, 50 Centavo
and 1 Sol, all struck in brass. The coins all bear the same
design, with a representation of an early coin and the dates “1565 +
1965” on one side and the Peruvian arms and the denomination on the
other. It is an attractive and historic set.
Item
PE-SETMINT PERU 400th ANNIVERSARY OF LIMA
MINT 5 COIN SET: 5 CENTAVOS - 1 SOL, 1965 UNC-spots.$8.50
PERU
COMPLETES ENDANGERED WILDLIFE COIN SERIES WITH A FROG
Peru
recently completed their three-year, 10 coin series of 1 Sol coins
featuring endangered wildlife of Peru with this 2019 issue depicting
the Rana Gigante del Titicaca, also known as the Titicaca water frog
(Telmatobius culeus). The critically endangered frog can
weigh over 2 pounds (1 kg.) and have an outstretched length of 20
inches (50cm). It is only found in Lake Titicaca and rivers
that flow into the lake. Other endangered species found on
the coins are the Andean Cat and Yellow-tailed woolly Monkey on 2019
issues. The 2018 issues depict Darwin's Rhea, Jaguar, Mountain Tapir,
and the White-winged Guan. The 2017 issues depict the
Spectacled Bear, Tumbes Crocodile and Andean
Condor. They are all are 25.5mm copper-nickel 1 Sol coins
that depict Peru's coat of arms on the obverse.
Item
PE-WILDSET10 PERU FULL SET OF 10 COIN
ENDANGERED WILDLIFE 1 SOL COINS UNC.
$29.75
Item
PE-1S-MONKEY PERU 1 SOL 2019 YELLOW TAILED
WOOLLY MONKEY from above set UNC
$3.00
Item
PE-1S-CAT PERU 1 SOL 2019 ANDEAN CAT
from above set UNC
$3.00
Item
PE-1S-FROG PERU 1 SOL 2019 TITICACA WATER
FROG from above set UNC
$3.00
VENEZUELA 2008 REVALUATION COIN
SET
On January 1, 2008 Venezuela implemented a 1000 to 1 revaluation of
their currency, replacing the Bolivar with the new Bolivar Fuerte
(Strong). Due to political and economic mismanagement and
falling oil prices the Bolivar Fuerte has proved to be anything but
strong and has lost almost all of its value. We offer the now
hard to find Bolivar Fuerte coins. The seven
coin set includes the 1, 5, 10, 12 1/2, 25 and 50 Centavos dated 2007
and a bi-metallic 1 Bolivar dated 2012. The 1 Bolivar
pictures national hero Simon Bolivar and has a lettered edge.
The other denominations show the denomination in large numerals on the
reverse. The 12 1/2 Centavos (1/8 Bolivar) is an unusual
denomination that harkens back when Spanish Pieces-of-Eight circulated
in the region. Because of severe inflation in Venezuela the
coins no longer circulate and are difficult to obtain.
Item
S-VE-SET7 VENEZUELA 7 COIN SET, 1
CENTIMO - 1 BOLIVAR
2007-2012 Y87-Y93 UNC.
$7.50
VENEZUELAN
COMMEMORATIVE COINS
In 2011 Venezuela issued a 25 Centavos for the 200th anniversary of the
signing of their Act of Independence. In 2010 it issued a 50
Centavos commemorating the 70th anniversary of its Central
Bank. Considering the severe inflation and economic
mismanagement the country has experienced it would not seem to be an
event one would want to commemorate. The standard reverses
are used on the coins which have the denomination and eight
stars. Both coins are nickel-plated
steel. Due to Venezuela's inflation the coins circulated only
briefly and are worth far more as scrap metal than their face value,
making them hard to find today.
Item
VE-SET2
VENEZUELA 25 Centavos 2011 & 50
Centavos 2010
COMMEMORATIVES, UNC.
$4.50
2016 COINS OF
VENEZUELA
In
conjunction with the planned withdrawal 100 Bolivar note in December
2016, Venezuela introduced three new coins: the 10, 50 and 100 Bolivar
dated 2016. Also issued at that time were new high
denomination banknotes. Due to of the inability of the government to
get the coins to the banks and the rapid depreciation of the value of
the Bolivar the withdrawal of the notes has been repeatedly
postponed. The three coins are struck in a magnetic alloy and
have similar designs. The obverses feature the
Barre portrait of Simon Bolivar, which has been used on Venezuela's
coins since 1873. Behind him are three undulating lines
representing the three stripes of Venezuela's flag. The
reverses have Venezuela's new coat-of-arms, the denomination and
date. Because of their lack of buying power and the economic
collapse of Venezuela the coins rarely circulate and are difficult to
obtain.
Item
VE-SET16 VENEZUELA 10, 50 & 100
BOLIVARES, 2016
UNC.
$7.50
ATTRACTIVE
&
UNUSUAL VENEZUELAN BANKNOTES 
Reduced
size images
This full set recent banknotes from Venezuela is both
attractive and unusual. The notes are unusual in that they
are
issued in both the vertical and horizontal format. The front
of the note is vertical and features a national hero. The
back is horizontal and features native wildlife. The 2012 2
Bolivares features Francisco de Miranda and a small vignette of a ship
on the front. Miranda helped Venezuela to obtain its independence from
Spain, only to be betrayed by fellow revolutionary Simon Bolivar. The
back pictures two Tonijas, also known as Orinico River
Dolphins. The front of 2011 5 Bolivares features "Negro
Primero", also known as Pedro Camejo. Born a slave, he joined
the revolution against Spain and became a brave and skillful army
officer, until dying in battle in 1821. The back of the note
features two Giant Armadillo. The 2014 10 Bolivares depicts
Guaicaipuro, who led a coalition of tribes against the Spanish conquest
of Venezuela in the 16th century. The back pictures an American Harpy
Eagle with the Ucaima Falls in the background. Luisa Cáceres
de Arismendi, is on the 2013 20 Bolivares. In 1814, at age
15, she married the 39 year old General Juan Bautista Arismendi, who
was fighting for Venezuela’s independence from Spain. A few months
later the pregnant Luisa was captured by the Spanish in order to exert
pressure on her husband. She was imprisoned in a dark dungeon
and given poor food, but did not betray her husband. Her
child died at birth due to the poor prison conditions. In
1816 Spanish put her on a ship to Spain, however the ship was attacked
by privateers, and she and the other passengers were stranded in the
Azores. She was eventually taken to Spain. All this
time she had no communication with her husband, family or
friends. In 1818 she escaped to the United States and from
there eventually made it back to Venezuela and to her
husband. She went on to have a total of eleven children.
Quite an adventure! The back depicts two Hawksbill
turtles and the Macanao Mountains. The 2016 50 Bolivares
pictures Venezuelan philosopher and educator Simón Rodríguez.
A Spectacled Bear is on the
back. Simon Bolivar, who led the fight for the independence
of
Venezuela,
Colombia,
Ecuador,
Peru
and
Bolivia
depicted on the
front
of the 2015 100 Bolivares. Venezuela’s currency is named
after him. The back features a pair of Red Siskin
birds. On December 12, 2016 the government suddenly
demonetized the 100
Bolivares notes, giving citizens two days to redeem their
currency. It
was the highest denomination and made up a majority of the value of
currency in circulation. The banks of course were not prepared,
creating vast chaos. The government claimed the move was to
stop
speculators and smugglers. In reality it mainly hurts the
poor who are
do most of their transactions in cash, keep what little savings they
have in cash and are unable to invest in property, gold or foreign
currency. The notes all measure 69x157mm.
Item
PM-VE-SET6-11 VENEZUELA 6 NOTE
SET: 2 - 100
BOLIVARES
2011-2015 P88-P93 UNC.
$6.00
VENEZUELA 100,000
BOLIVARES INFLATION NOTE
Venezuela
introduced a new high denomination 100,000 Bolivares banknote
in November 2017 in response to the countries hyperinflation brought on
by the governments economic and political mismanagement. The
Simon Bolivar is on the front of the note in a vertical format, and Red
siskin birds are on the back in a horizontal format. The same
design was used on the previous 20,000 Bolivares and 100 Bolivares
notes, but in a different color. In an effort to disguise the
galloping inflation, the denomination is spelled out in words, rather
than
the full numerical value. The notes are apparently in short supply "due
to a shortage of paper" according to the government. The note
is expected to be replaced
soon as Venezuela recently announced that it will revalue its currency.
Item
PM-VE-100K VENEZUELA 100,000 BOLIVARES
NOTE, 2017 UNC.
$5.00
NEW 2018
VENEZUELA BOLIVAR SOBERANO COINS
In
August 2018 Venezuela introduced two new coins, a 50 Centimos and a
bi-metallic 1 Bolivar Soberano as part of a 100,000 to 1 currency
revaluation. The new 1 Bolivar Soberano is equivalent to
100,000 of the previous Bolivar Fuerte,
which was introduced in 2008. The Bolivar Soberano was
supposed to be a stable currency, tied to a Venezuelan crypto-currency
called the Petro, which was supposedly valued at 1 barrel of
oil. Instead the nation’s hyperinflation is increasing, with
prices doubling every few days. The new 1 Bolivar Soberano
coin is very similar to the old 1
Bolivar
Fuerte coin, but is worth 100,000 times more! Both the 1
Bolivar coins are 24mm bi-metallic coins depicting Simon Bolivar facing
left on the obverse and have the national arms, denomination and date
on the reverse and both have the same lettered edge. The coins were
minted by the Venezuelan government mint in Maracay and tend to be
poorly struck. The mintmark for the Casa de la Moneda de
Maracay is to the right of Bolivar's neck.
Item
VE-SET18 VENEZUELA 50 CENTIMOS & 1
BOLIVAR
COINS
2018 UNC.
$4.00
VENEZUELA'S NEW
CURRENCY
On August 20, 2018 Venezuela did a 100,000 to 1 revaluation, replacing
the worthless Bolivar Fuerte (Strong Bolivar) with the Bolivar Soberano
(Sovereign Bolivar). The value of the Bolivar Soberano is
supposedly tied to the a crypto-currency created by the government of
Venezuela called the Petro, with 1 Petro being equivalent to 1 barrel
of oil. In reality the currency was not tied to
anything. The socialist government of Venezuela continued its
disastrous political and economic policies, resulting in frequent
blackouts. lack of running water, and
continued hyper-inflation in Venezuela, which some estimate at a
million percent per year. Eight denominations of Bolivar
Soberano notes were released. Like previous issues the fronts
are in a
vertical format and depict national heroes. The
backs are in a horizontal format and depict native wildlife and
national
parks. The 500 Bolivars depicts Simon
Bolivar and the Venezuelan Troupial, which is the national
bird. The 200 Bolivars features Francisco de Miranda and the
Military Macaw. The 100 Bolivars depicts Ezequiel Zamora and a Brown
Spider Monkey. It was nominated for the
Banknote
of the Year award. The 50 Bolivars pictures
Antionio Jose de
Sucre and an Oncilla (tiger cat or Cunaguaro). The 20 Bolivars portrays
Simon Rodriguez and a Jaguar. The 10 Bolivars depicts Rafael Urdaneta
and a Giant Anteater. The 5 Bolivars pictures José Felix
Ribas and a Veragua stubfoot toad (Atelopus cruciger). The 2
Bolivars features Josefa Camejo and a Yellow-crowned Amazon
Parrot. The lower denomination notes are difficult to obtain
as many people refuse to accept them due to their minimal buying power
- the
effort spent counting the notes is more than the notes are
worth! With increasing hyper-inflation, political
and economic instability in Venezuela the notes may not be around for
long.
Item
PM-VE-SOB8 VENEZUELA 8 NOTE BOLIVAR SOBERANO
SET 2018 AU-UNC.
$15.00
2019 INFLATION NOTES OF
VENEZUELA
Venezuela
released three new high denomination notes in June 2019. The
notes were badly needed as the existing notes were virtually worthless
due to rampant inflation and payment by cards and electronic transfer
was often difficult due to frequent blackouts. The three
notes
released were the 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 Bolivares Soberano. The
situation is so bad in Venezuela that banks rationed notes to only a
few per day per customer due to a shortage of banknotes. All three
notes have the same design, with the front in a vertical format
picturing Simon Bolivar, and the back in a horizontal format featuring
Simon Bolivar Mausoleum in Caracas. The notes have a watermark
depicting Simon Bolivar and measure 159 x 69mm.
Item
PM-VE-SET19 VENEZUELA 3 NOTE SET
10,000-50,000 BOLIVARES 2019 UNC,
$35.00
Also see:
COINS
AND CURRENCY OF MEXICO
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Argentina
issued this 2007 2 Pesos coin to commemorate the 100th
anniversary of the nations petroleum industry.
One side pictures an oil well, the other side depicts an oil pump and
the name of the province “Chubut” where oil was discovered and is the
heart of the countries petroleum industry. Oil was discovered in 1907,
when a crew drilling for water, struck oil instead. In recent years the
country has turned from a net exporter of energy to a net importer.
Government price controls on energy and expropriations have dried up
exploration and investment in the petroleum industry despite the
country having potentially huge energy reserves. The 30mm
copper-nickel coin is Uncirculated.
In
1994 Argentina implemented a major constitutional reform. The new
constitution was designed to end previous abuses by increasing the
protection of political and consumer rights, adding sections dealing
with public ethics, environmental protection and limiting the power and
term of the President. These pure nickel 2 and 5 Peso coins
were issued to commemorate the event. Both 1994 dated coins
have the same design. The obverse features the Argentine
Coat-of-Arms, the names of the two cities that hosted the
Constitutional Convention, Parana and Santa Fe, and the arms of the two
cities. The reverse represents the Constitution as an open
book, with the first words of the preamble depicted.
This
Brilliant Uncirculated three coin set from Bolivia includes the
copper-nickel 1935 5 Centavos, 1936 10 Centavos and the 1939 50
Centavos. The obverses of the coins depict the Bolivian arms
which feature the Potosi mountain silver mine and an alpaca.
The reverses have a caduceus, the denomination and date. The
5 and 50 Centavos were struck only a single year. It is an attractive,
old set in top condition.
This
short-lived 4 coin set from Brazil features Brazilians engaged in their
daily work. The 1 Centavo depicts a farmer and cows.
A fisherman and two fish is on the 5 Centavos. A
miner and three diamonds is on the 10 Centavos. The 50
Centavos depicts what appears to be a weaver making cloth.
The coins were introduced in 1989 as part of a currency
reform, in which 1000 of the old Cruzados became worth 1 Crozado Novo.
Inflation continued out of controll and the coins were soon
worthless. In 1990 Brazil introduced another reform and
Cruzado Nova was replaced by the Cruzeiro. All four coins
are made of Stainless Steel and feature the denomination on the
obverse. It is an inexpensive and attractive Brilliant Uncirculated set.
BRAZILIAN
RIO OLYMPIC COINS
The
emblem of the long defunct Central American Republic, featuring a
radiant sun-face rising over five mountain peaks appears on the reverse
of this 1954 Nicaragua 50 Centavos. Nicaragua based their
national arms on the emblem. The obverse features Francisco
Hernández de Córdoba, a Spanish conquistador who is the founder of
Nicaragua and for whom their currency is named. He
established the Nicaraguan cities of Granada and León in 1524. The 26mm
copper-nickel coin has a lettered edge and is Uncirculated.
It has a catalog value of $15.00, however, our price is MUCH less.
This
seven coin set from Paraguay features some of the nations top heroes.
With heroes like these it is little wonder that the country has
suffered so greatly over the years. The 1000 Guaranies pictures
Francisco Solano Lopez, a 19th century megalomaniac whose rule nearly
destroyed his country. He ruled the country as his own personal
property, at one time he transferred most land in the country to his
mistress. Fearful of any potential opposition, ordered the executions
of his own brothers and had his mother and sisters tortured. He ordered
the executions of cabinet ministers,
judges, bishops, priests and most of the civil officers. He also
attempted to have himself canonized by the local bishops. He started
wars with Brazil and Argentina, known as the War of the Triple
Alliance, which resulted in the near total destruction of his country,
loss of vast amounts of territory as well as the loss of over half of
its population. Some have estimated that up to 90% of the male
population died as a result of the war. The reveres pictures the
National Heroes Pantheon. The 500 Guaranies pictures General Bernardino
Caballero. In 1881 he organized a coup to become President. He fathered
90 children outside of marriage. In 1886 he rigged the elections to
assure his favored candidate would be chosen, and founded the Colorado
party. The reverse pictures the Central Bank of Paraguay. The 100
Guaranies pictures General Jose E. Diaz, a hero of the War of the
Triple Alliance, who died in battle. He was promoted to General an hour
before his death. The reverse pictures Ruins of Humaita, The 50 Guarani
depicts Major General José Félix Estigarribia. A military hero for his
victory over Bolivia in the Chaco War, he was elected President in
1939. Six months later he suspended the constitution, dissolved the
legislature and granted himself broad powers. In 1940 he died in an
airplane crash. The reverse pictures the Acaray River Dam. The 10
Guarani depicts General Eugenio Alejandrino Garay, who lead several
successful battles in the Chaco War despite his advanced age, and who
was an accomplished journalist. The reverse pictures a cow. A generic
Paraguayan woman holding a pot is on the 5 Guarani and a Paraguayan
soldier is on the 1 Guarani. The top four denominations are dated 2007
or 2008, while the lower three denominations are brass-colored and are
dated 1992 to 1996. All seven coins are Brilliant Uncirculated.
Peruvian
dictator Augusto Bernardino Leguia issued this silver medalette as part
of Peru’s Fiestas Patrias Great Military Parade Day in 1925.
The medalette calls for the return of El Morro Arica, which Peru lost
to Chile, along with the surrounding territory, 45 years earlier in the
War of the Pacific.
Since then the two nations had numerous unfruitful negotiations over
the status of the territories. Recovery of the lost territory
had long been a rallying point for Peruvian politicians. The
obverse depicts the coastal mountain El Morro Arica. It is the most
recognizable landmark in the area. Above it is the legend "RECUPERAR EL MORRO"
(Recover El Morro) and "A.B.LEGUIA".
In exergue is the date of the
event: "29 JULIO 1925"
The reverse has the legend "JUNTA
PATRIOTICA NACIONAL". In 1929 the two nations
finally came to
a formal agreement, El Morro and Arica province remained part of
Chile. The 22.8mm silver medal weighs 5.5 grams and
was made with a small hole at the top in order to suspend it from a
hanger or ribbon. The medalette is Uncirculated, though may
show some slight friction or bag marks. It is an unusual and
rarely seen piece.
Admiral
Miguel Grau is one of Peru's most honored heroes for his actions in The
War of The Pacific. Grau repeatedly attacked the
vastly superior Chilean
navy, severely disrupting the Chilean lines of supply and
communication. He captured or damaging a number of Chilean vessels. He
was called the "Gentleman of the Seas" for his chivalrous treatment of
his enemies. He was killed in action in October 1879. In 1934
Peru decided to build monuments honoring Admiral Grau in the cities of
Lima and Piura, the city where he was born. This copper 20
Centavos token was struck to help raise funds to build the
monuments. The 20mm token features the arms of Peru
and the legend "FONDOS
PRO MONUMENTOS GRAU" (Money for Grau Monument). The other
side features the denomination and the date October 8, 1935. 
On January 1, 2008 Venezuela implemented a 1000 to 1 revaluation of
their currency, replacing the Bolivar with the new Bolivar Fuerte
(Strong). Due to political and economic mismanagement and
falling oil prices the Bolivar Fuerte has proved to be anything but
strong and has lost almost all of its value. We offer the now
hard to find Bolivar Fuerte coins. The seven
coin set includes the 1, 5, 10, 12 1/2, 25 and 50 Centavos dated 2007
and a bi-metallic 1 Bolivar dated 2012. The 1 Bolivar
pictures national hero Simon Bolivar and has a lettered edge.
The other denominations show the denomination in large numerals on the
reverse. The 12 1/2 Centavos (1/8 Bolivar) is an unusual
denomination that harkens back when Spanish Pieces-of-Eight circulated
in the region. Because of severe inflation in Venezuela the
coins no longer circulate and are difficult to obtain.
In
conjunction with the planned withdrawal 100 Bolivar note in December
2016, Venezuela introduced three new coins: the 10, 50 and 100 Bolivar
dated 2016. Also issued at that time were new high
denomination banknotes. Due to of the inability of the government to
get the coins to the banks and the rapid depreciation of the value of
the Bolivar the withdrawal of the notes has been repeatedly
postponed. The three coins are struck in a magnetic alloy and
have similar designs. The obverses feature the
Barre portrait of Simon Bolivar, which has been used on Venezuela's
coins since 1873. Behind him are three undulating lines
representing the three stripes of Venezuela's flag. The
reverses have Venezuela's new coat-of-arms, the denomination and
date. Because of their lack of buying power and the economic
collapse of Venezuela the coins rarely circulate and are difficult to
obtain. 
Venezuela
introduced a new high denomination 100,000 Bolivares banknote
in November 2017 in response to the countries hyperinflation brought on
by the governments economic and political mismanagement. The
Simon Bolivar is on the front of the note in a vertical format, and Red
siskin birds are on the back in a horizontal format. The same
design was used on the previous 20,000 Bolivares and 100 Bolivares
notes, but in a different color. In an effort to disguise the
galloping inflation, the denomination is spelled out in words, rather
than
the full numerical value. The notes are apparently in short supply "due
to a shortage of paper" according to the government. The note
is expected to be replaced
soon as Venezuela recently announced that it will revalue its currency.
In
August 2018 Venezuela introduced two new coins, a 50 Centimos and a
bi-metallic 1 Bolivar Soberano as part of a 100,000 to 1 currency
revaluation. The new 1 Bolivar Soberano is equivalent to 100,000 of the previous Bolivar Fuerte,
which was introduced in 2008. The Bolivar Soberano was
supposed to be a stable currency, tied to a Venezuelan crypto-currency
called the Petro, which was supposedly valued at 1 barrel of
oil. Instead the nation’s hyperinflation is increasing, with
prices doubling every few days. The new 1 Bolivar Soberano
coin is very similar to the old 1 Bolivar
Fuerte coin, but is worth 100,000 times more! Both the 1
Bolivar coins are 24mm bi-metallic coins depicting Simon Bolivar facing
left on the obverse and have the national arms, denomination and date
on the reverse and both have the same lettered edge. The coins were
minted by the Venezuelan government mint in Maracay and tend to be
poorly struck. The mintmark for the Casa de la Moneda de
Maracay is to the right of Bolivar's neck.
