20 bolivares 1974 specimen
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3 salesAbout This Note
This is a Venezuelan 20 bolivares specimen note from 1974, printed by the American Bank Note Company and graded in uncirculated condition. The note features an ornate design with a portrait of José Antonio Páez on the obverse and a striking monument to the Battle of Carabobo on the reverse, both rendered in fine engraved detail characteristic of ABNC's work. As a specimen note (marked 'ESPECIMEN SIN VALOR' in red overprint), this is a non-circulating presentation piece with all-zero serial numbers, making it a desirable collectible for Venezuelan currency specialists and those interested in political iconography and high-security engraving.
Common. Despite being a specimen note, this Pick number (P-53as) appears in standard catalogs and community databases with established market pricing. eBay historical sales data shows comparable notes in VF condition selling for approximately $10-11, and catalog values for UNC specimens are listed at $9 (2019 pricing), indicating this is a readily available collectible with stable but modest market demand. The wide print run from 1974-1979, combined with specimen notes being produced in reasonable quantities for presentation and archival purposes, supports a common classification.
This note was issued during the presidency of Carlos Andrés Pérez (1974-1979), a period of significant Venezuelan economic expansion fueled by oil revenues. The obverse honors José Antonio Páez, the legendary independence leader and founder of the Venezuelan republic, while the reverse depicts the Monument to the Motherland at Carabobo Fields, commemorating the decisive 1821 battle that secured Venezuelan independence. The note's design reflects Venezuela's pride in its revolutionary heritage and military history during this period of national prosperity.
The obverse features a finely engraved portrait of José Antonio Páez positioned on the right side, depicted as an older man with curly hair in formal 19th-century attire. The left side of the note contains an ornate circular design with radiating patterns serving as a watermark area, flanked by elaborate foliate and guilloche decorative elements in the upper corners with the denomination '20' prominently displayed. The reverse depicts the Monument to the Motherland (Monumento a la Patria) at Carabobo Fields—a complex sculptural memorial featuring multiple figures arranged around a central obelisk or tower structure, rendered in meticulous engraved detail. Both sides feature decorative border patterns with geometric guilloche work, the coat of arms in the upper left of the reverse, and corner denominations with ornamental flourishes. The entire design employs the fine line engraving security techniques that ABNC was renowned for, with dominant green coloration on a multicolor underprint incorporating gray, pink/red, white, and black elements.
FRONT SIDE: 'BANCO CENTRAL DE VENEZUELA' (Central Bank of Venezuela), 'CARACAS' (Caracas), '20' (denomination), 'VEINTE BOLIVARES' (Twenty bolivares), 'JOSE ANTONIO PAEZ' (portrait identification), 'ESPECIMEN SIN VALOR' (Specimen without value - red overprint), 'PAGADEROS AL PORTADOR EN LAS OFICINAS DEL BANCO' (Payable to bearer at the bank's offices), 'FECHA' (Date), 'ABRIL' (April), 'PRESIDENTE' (President), 'PRIMER VICE-PRESIDENTE' (First Vice-President), 'A0000000' (serial number - specimen format). BACK SIDE: 'BANCO CENTRAL DE VENEZUELA' (Central Bank of Venezuela), '20' (denomination in corners), 'VEINTE BOLIVARES' (Twenty bolivares), 'ESPECIMEN SIN VALOR' (Specimen without value - red overprint), 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY' (printer attribution).
Intaglio (engraved) printing by the American Bank Note Company, New York. The note displays characteristic ABNC security features including intricate guilloche patterns, fine line engraving throughout all decorative elements, detailed portraiture and monument illustration with precise line work, and complex background security patterns. The multicolor printing technique incorporates multiple color layers typical of high-security currency production. The specimen overprint in red was applied post-production to designate this as a non-circulating presentation note.
This is a specimen variant (designated P-53as, where 's' indicates specimen status) of the standard 1974 issue P-53. The visual analysis confirms typical specimen characteristics: red overprint reading 'ESPECIMEN SIN VALOR', all-zero serial number format (A0000000), and the absence of circulation markings. The PMG Population Report indicates at least three cataloged specimen variants (P-53s1, P-53s2, P-53s3) exist for this base Pick number, suggesting minor printing or overprinting variations among specimens. The serial number prefix 'A' is consistent with documented specimen numbering for this issue. The note bears the ABNC printer attribution visible on the reverse.
