Catalog
5 Céntimos 'Puya'
| Issuer | Venezuela |
|---|---|
| Year | 1944 |
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| Currency | Bolivar (1879-2007) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The denomination numeral 5 appears prominently in the upper central field, with the inscription CENTIMOS directly below, both enclosed within a wreath of laurel and coffee branches tied at the base with a floral ornament. The wreath is rendered in fine relief with detailed foliage and berries. The entire design is contained within a beaded border running along the coin's rim. |
| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Venezuela's small-denomination coinage in the 1940s was struck largely under contract at the Philadelphia Mint, and this issue is no exception. The "Puya" nickname — widely used in Venezuelan street commerce — stuck to the 5-céntimo piece across multiple decades and compositions, persisting long after the brass alloy of this wartime issue gave way to later metals.
The shift to brass for the 1944 striking reflects wartime copper conservation pressures affecting mints throughout the Americas, as nickel and pure copper were diverted to military production.