...Venezuela - 2021 to 2023 Full Set Currency Reform 1:1,000,000 Bolivares

Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela

(Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela)

Banco Central de Venezuela (BCV)

(Central Bank of Venezuela)

Currency - Bolivar (VEF)

 

Here is a full set of seven notes issued between 2021 and 2023 following the country's currency reform. This series replaces the previous currency reform of 2018. This series is to reduce six zeros from the previous issues. The reform is one new bolivares for 1,000,000 old bolivares. In the previous series, the central bank issued three hyperinflation notes of 200,000, 500,000 and 1,000,000 bolivares. 

Venezuela has a history of economic instability that led to high inflation which first started in 1983. In the mid to late 90s, high denomination notes were issued to meet the demand for larger banknotes. Since then, the country has gone through a few currency reforms, and this is the third time that the country is having it's currency reformed. 

The design for the first five notes from 5 to 100 bolivares are all the same, with the date of 29.04.2021, same signatures, same designs albeit different colours. The format for this series is that all notes are printed in vertical format and horizontal on the back.

 

Five Bolívares

 

President BCV - Calixto Ortega Sanchez (tenure 2018-)

First Vice President - Sohail Hernandez Parra (tenure 2018-)

Watermarks - Simon Bolivar and electrotype BCV

Date - 29 De Abril De 2021  

Dimensions - 69.5mm x 156.5mm

 

Front - On the front, and like many of those previously issued is the portrait of Simon Bolivar (b.1783-1830). His full name is Simon Jose Antonio de la Santisima Trinidad Bolivar Palacios Ponte y Blanco. Needless to say, the currency of Bolivar is named after him. The Bolivar was first adopted back in 1940. Prior to that, the currency of Venezuela was called Peso.

 

Back - The Triumphal arch at the Field of Battle Carabobo monument which is located approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Valencia city. This is also where the Battle of Carabobo was fought and gained independence from the Spanish. The independence fighters were led by General Simon Bolivar. This arch was erected in 1921 to celebrate the centennial of the battle. To the right is the scene of the Battle of Carabobo fought on 24.06.1821.

Ten Bolívares

 

President BCV - Calixto Ortega Sanchez (tenure 2018-)

First Vice President - Sohail Hernandez Parra (tenure 2018-)

Watermarks - Simon Bolivar and electrotype BCV

Date - 29 De Abril De 2021  

Dimensions - 69.5mm x 157mm

 

Front - No doubt Simon Bolivar is considered as a national hero in Venezuela. He was born in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela. He came from a wealthy family and had his early education in Spain. In Venezuela, his birthday is a public holiday and is celebrated on 24th of July (his birthday anniversary).

 

Back - The Triumphal arch at the Field of Battle Carabobo monument which is located approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Valencia city. This is also where the Battle of Carabobo was fought and gained independence from the Spanish. The independence fighters were led by General Simon Bolivar. This arch was erected in 1921 to celebrate the centennial of the battle. To the right is the scene of the Battle of Carabobo fought on 24.06.1821. 

 

Twenty Bolívares

 

President BCV - Calixto Ortega Sanchez (tenure 2018-)

First Vice President - Sohail Hernandez Parra (tenure 2018-)

Watermarks - Simon Bolivar and electrotype BCV

Date - 29 De Abril De 2021  

Dimensions - 69.5mm x 157mm

 

Front - During his lifetime, he was involved in gaining independence from Spain to what we all know today as Colombia (including Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela), Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela. Due to his military success, he was the President of Colombia (1819-1830), President of Peru (1824-1827) and President of Bolivia (45 days from 06.08.1825). 

Back - The Triumphal arch at the Field of Battle Carabobo monument which is located approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Valencia city. This is also where the Battle of Carabobo was fought and gained independence from the Spanish. The independence fighters were led by General Simon Bolivar. This arch was erected in 1921 to celebrate the centennial of the battle. To the right is the scene of the Battle of Carabobo fought on 24.06.1821. 

 

Fifty Bolívares

 

President BCV - Calixto Ortega Sanchez (tenure 2018-)

First Vice President - Sohail Hernandez Parra (tenure 2018-)

Watermarks - Simon Bolivar and electrotype BCV

Date - 29 De Abril De 2021  

Dimensions - 69.5mm x 157mm

 

Front - He resigned as the President of Colombia on 27.04.1830 and died almost 8 months later in Colombia on 17.12.1830 as the relatively young age of 47 years old. He died reportedly from tuberculosis.

Back - The Triumphal arch at the Field of Battle Carabobo monument which is located approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Valencia city. This is also where the Battle of Carabobo was fought and gained independence from the Spanish. The independence fighters were led by General Simon Bolivar. This arch was erected in 1921 to celebrate the centennial of the battle. To the right is the scene of the Battle of Carabobo fought on 24.06.1821. 

 

One Hundred Bolívares

 

President BCV - Calixto Ortega Sanchez (tenure 2018-)

First Vice President - Sohail Hernandez Parra (tenure 2018-)

Watermarks - Simon Bolivar and electrotype BCV

Date - 29 De Abril De 2021 

Dimensions - 69.5mm x 157mm

Front - On the front of the first five notes (5 to 100 bolivares), the designs are the same as those previously issued.

Back - The Triumphal arch at the Field of Battle Carabobo monument which is located approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Valencia city. This is also where the Battle of Carabobo was fought and gained independence from the Spanish. The independence fighters were led by General Simon Bolivar. This arch was erected in 1921 to celebrate the centennial of the battle. To the right is the scene of the Battle of Carabobo fought on 24.06.1821. 

Two Hundred Bolívares

 

President BCV - Calixto Ortega Sanchez (tenure 2018-)

First Vice President - Sohail Hernandez Parra (tenure 2018-)

Watermarks - Simon Bolivar and electrotype BCV

Date - 17 De Agosto De 2023 

Dimensions -69.5mm x 156.5mm

Front - Three different portraits of Simon Bolivar. Above the portraits is the outline drawing of the General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge located at the Tablazo Strait outlet of Lake Maracaibo in western Venezuela.

Back - To the left is the image of the General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge. This bridge took four years to construct and was completed in 1962 at a cost of 350 million bolivares. Next to the bridge is the scene of the Battle of Lake Maracaibo (or Naval Battle of the Lake). This battle was fought between the forces of the Republican and the Royalist of the Spanish monarchy. The battle was fought on 24.07.1823 and won by the Republican forces.

 

Five Hundred Bolívares

 

President BCV - Calixto Ortega Sanchez (tenure 2018-)

First Vice President - Sohail Hernandez Parra (tenure 2018-)

Watermarks - Simon Bolivar and electrotype BCV

Date - 17 De Agosto De 2023

Dimensions - 70mm x 156.5mm

 

Front - Three different portraits of Simon Bolivar. Above the portraits is the outline drawing of the General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge located at the Tablazo Strait outlet of Lake Maracaibo in western Venezuela.

 

Back - To the left is the image of the General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge, and the scene of the Battle of Lake Maracaibo (or Naval Battle of the Lake). This battle only lasted for two hours and the casualties and losses were 44 killed, 437 captured and 164 wounded.

 

On the back all the seven notes are printed with the celebration of  the 200th Year of the Battle of Carabobo (1821-2021). The Battle of Carabobo was fought between the forces led by General Simon Bolivar and the Spanish forces led by Field Marshal Miguel de la Torre, which led to the independence of Venezuela.