2017-10-16 Mon

The proprietor of Numismatica Globus in Caracas, Antonio Alessandrini, found rare notes in a file from the family of the late 19th- century military and political leader Gen. Nicolas Rolando.

Ronaldo was elected Constitutional President of Venezuela’s Bermudez State in 1894. Later, he played many vital civil and military roles. Many state bank notes known as “Credito Publico del Estado Bermudez” of different values were recently discovered with Rolando’s signature as president of Bermudez State.

A 1,000-bolivar note and a 1-bolivar note were sold for more than $1,500 in a private online auction. The notes were issued in Barcelona and are dated by hand - June 10, 1896. The 7 inches by 6.5 inches notes also had signatures of five other officials. The serial numbers are also handwritten. 200 1-bolivar notes and 110 1,000-bolivar notes were issued. It is not sure if all of them were circulated.

Authorized on 16th March 1896, the March 23 date printed on the note could be the date of general issue or the day they were printed. Out of the nine denominations that were released, 1-, 5-, 10-, 20- and 40-bolívar notes were not used as public debt bonds. They were used in payments like other similar issues of the time. The notes did not pay interest like the modern issues of Venezuelan banks and only a few of them survived.