Catalog
100 Venezolanos
| Issuer | Compañía de Crédito |
|---|---|
| Year | 1873 |
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| Shape | Rectangular |
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| Obverse description | The obverse is headed by the bold inscription COMPAÑÍA DE CRÉDITO across the top, flanked by the numeral 100 at each upper corner. At centre, the Venezuelan coat of arms is set within an ornate engraved vignette surrounded by guilloche work, with the denomination panels bearing 100 in large oval cartouches to the left and right. Below the central vignette, a manuscript-style text reads Vale por CIEN VENEZOLANOS que se pagarán al portador en Caracas a la presentación, with places for date and signatures of the Director and Administrator at the foot. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | COMPAÑÍA DE CRÉDITO 100 CIEN VENEZOLANOS Vale por Cien Venezolanos que se pagarán al portador en Caracas a la presentación Caracas, de 18 Por la Dirección El Administrador |
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| Comments |
The Compañía de Crédito was one of several Venezuelan private banking institutions that briefly flourished in the early 1870s following the country's 1861 banking law, which opened the door to chartered note-issuing banks for the first time. The arrangement was short-lived. Political instability and chronic fiscal pressure from the central government made private bank circulation a constant negotiation rather than a settled right, and most of these institutions collapsed or were absorbed before the end of the decade.
At the 100 Venezolanos denomination, this note would have represented serious purchasing power — not everyday commerce. ABNC's involvement confirms the issuer invested in internationally credible printing to reinforce confidence in what was still a very young paper currency culture.