

This is a specimen example of the 1962 Bolivia 50 Pesos Bolivianos note (P-162s), printed by Thomas de la Rue in London. The note exhibits excellent uncirculated condition with crisp printing, vibrant orange and multicolor palette, and displays the iconic portrait of Antonio José de Sucre on the obverse and the historically significant Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun) from Tiahuanacu on the reverse. The red diagonal 'SPECIMEN' overprint indicates this is a non-circulating sample issued for distribution and reference purposes by the Banco Central de Bolivia.
Common. The eBay market data shows consistent sales of this note in various grades, with UNC examples regularly selling between $1.25 and $3.00 (prior to graded premium specimens). The 1962 issue was a regular circulation issue with significant print runs, and the note remains readily available to collectors. Specimen examples like this one are slightly more specialized but still considered common within the collector market.
Issued under the Law of July 15, 1962, this banknote reflects Bolivia's monetary reform and modernization efforts during a period of political and economic transition in the early 1960s. The obverse features Antonio José de Sucre, the founding president of Bolivia and a key figure in South American independence movements, honoring the nation's republican heritage. The reverse depicts the Puerta del Sol at Tiahuanacu, an ancient pre-Columbian archaeological monument symbolizing Bolivia's indigenous cultural legacy and historical significance in the Americas.
The obverse features a formal portrait of Antonio José de Sucre in profile facing left, positioned on the right side of the note in elegant formal attire. The composition is framed by ornate decorative borders with geometric patterns and includes the Bolivian coat of arms on the left. A prominent sunburst/radiating lines pattern occupies the center, a classical security feature common to Thomas de la Rue designs of this era. The reverse displays a detailed engraved landscape of the Puerta del Sol (Sun Gate) at Tiahuanacu, the famous pre-Columbian monolithic gateway structure located on the Altiplano. Ornamental corner frames with geometric patterns and oval elements frame the central archaeological imagery. The overall color scheme employs orange as the primary tone with red, light blue/cyan, and cream accents, creating a visually distinctive and recognizable design.
{"obverse":{"BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA":"Central Bank of Bolivia","CINCUENTA PESOS BOLIVIANOS":"Fifty Bolivian Pesos","LEY DE 15 DE JULIO DE 1962":"Law of July 15, 1962","LA PAZ":"La Paz","SUCRE":"Sucre","GERENTE":"Manager","PRESIDENTE":"President","THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED":"Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited","D1000000":"Serial Number"},"reverse":{"BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA":"Central Bank of Bolivia","CINCUENTA PESOS BOLIVIANOS":"Fifty Bolivian Pesos","PUERTA DEL SOL-TIAHUANACU":"Gate of the Sun - Tiahuanacu","THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED":"Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited"},"overprint":{"SPECIMEN":"Specimen (indicates non-circulating reference note)"}}
This note was produced using intaglio (engraving) printing by Thomas de la Rue & Company, Limited of London, the premier British security printer. The fine geometric line patterns, intricate engraved details throughout, and the refined rendering of both the portrait and the Tiahuanacu monument are characteristic of high-quality intaglio printing. The multiple ornamental borders and the precise execution of security elements reflect the technical capabilities of Thomas de la Rue's presses during the early 1960s.
This is a specimen variety (P-162s) as indicated by the red diagonal 'SPECIMEN' overprint. The base Pick catalog indicates 22 signature varieties exist for the regular P-162 issue. This particular specimen bears the serial number D1000000, suggesting it may be from an official presentation or distribution series. The note is dated per the law of July 15, 1962, and was issued by the Banco Central de Bolivia in La Paz.