Catalog
20 Bolívares
| Issuer | Banco de Carácas |
|---|---|
| Year | 1879 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Obverse description | The obverse is printed in green and black on cream paper, with a central guilloche vignette enclosing a large ornate 'B' monogram below the word 'VEINTE' in bold letters. The heading 'BANCO DE CARÁCAS' and 'COMPAÑÍA ANÓNIMA' appear in two arched lines across the upper field, flanked by corner medallions bearing the numeral '20'. The lower portion carries the denomination text 'VALE POR VEINTE BOLIVAR' and a promise-to-pay clause in script, with spaces for date, place, and manuscript signatures from the Dirección and Secretario Contador. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | BANCO DE CARÁCAS COMPAÑÍA ANÓNIMA VEINTE CARACAL CAPITAL VALE POR VEINTE BOLIVAR Bs. 1.800,000 que se pagarán al portador en Carácas á la presentación De la Dirección El Secretario Contador VEINTE |
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| Comments |
The Banco de Caracas was a privately chartered institution, one of several Venezuelan commercial banks authorized to issue currency during the late nineteenth century before the state consolidated that authority. This 20 Bolívares note dates from the early years of the Guzmán Blanco administration's monetary reforms, which had formally established the bolívar as the national unit just a few years prior in 1879 — making early-dated issues from this period among the first circulating examples of the denomination by name.
ABNC's engraved intaglio work on Venezuelan private bank paper from this period is typically fine, executed on contract from New York without local overprinting complications.