The Banco Nacional de Bolivia was founded in 1871 with a concession granting it the exclusive right to issue banknotes — a monopoly that brought it into sustained conflict with competing regional banks throughout the following decade. By 1883, that struggle was still unresolved, and notes of this series circulated alongside competing issues from rival institutions in Cochabamba and La Paz.
American Bank Note Company produced the plates in New York, as it did for a substantial portion of Latin American paper in this period. The ABNC's work for Bolivia was technically accomplished but the notes saw rough handling in the altiplano trade circuits, and genuinely uncirculated survivors are uncommon.
The Banco Nacional de Bolivia was founded in 1871 with a concession granting it the exclusive right to issue banknotes — a monopoly that brought it into sustained conflict with competing regional banks throughout the following decade. By 1883, that struggle was still unresolved, and notes of this series circulated alongside competing issues from rival institutions in Cochabamba and La Paz.
American Bank Note Company produced the plates in New York, as it did for a substantial portion of Latin American paper in this period. The ABNC's work for Bolivia was technically accomplished but the notes saw rough handling in the altiplano trade circuits, and genuinely uncirculated survivors are uncommon.