3000 Bolívares Casa de la Moneda de Maracay

Venezuela's Casa de la Moneda de Maracay — the Maracay mint — was established in 1987 as the country began decentralizing production away from Caracas. By 1999, the bolivar was under severe pressure: the Chávez government had just taken office in February of that year, oil revenues had collapsed alongside a global price slump, and annual inflation was running above 20%. High-denomination bronze pieces of this period circulated hard and briefly before successive redenominations rendered them obsolete.

Venezuela redenominated its currency in 2008, replacing 1,000 old bolívares with one bolívar fuerte, making this 3,000-bolívar piece equivalent to just three of the successor units at conversion.