Catalog
5 Bolivianos Series A-C
| Issuer | Banco Central de Bolivia |
|---|---|
| Year | 1987-1995 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Central vignette of the ornate Gothic façade of the Santuario de la Virgen del Socavón in Oruro, executed in intaglio in green tones, with the inscription 'VIRGEN DEL SOCAVÓN' to the right of the vignette. Elaborate guilloche rosettes and scrollwork flank the central design on both left and right margins, with the denomination numeral '5' incorporated into each. The issuer title and denomination appear in letterpress along the upper portion of the note. |
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| Protection type | Watermark, Security thread |
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| Comments |
The 5 Bolivianos was introduced as part of Bolivia's monetary reconstruction following the catastrophic hyperinflation of 1984–1985, when prices were doubling every few weeks and the peso boliviano became functionally worthless. The new boliviano, established by Decree 21060 in August 1985, replaced it at one million to one — among the most extreme redenominations in Latin American history.
Having three separate printing houses — De La Rue, the Spanish FNMT, and Oberthur — produce the same series across different runs is unusual for a low-denomination note and likely reflects procurement flexibility during Bolivia's economic recovery period.