5 bolivares 1969
Market Prices
About This Note
This is a Venezuelan 5 Bolívares banknote from 1969 (Pick P-50b), issued by the Banco Central de Venezuela and printed by Thomas De La Rue in London. The note features dual portraits of national heroes Simón Bolívar (left) and Francisco de Miranda (right) on the obverse, with the National Pantheon of Caracas depicted on the reverse. The observed example displays crisp, sharp printing detail characteristic of UNC condition, with vibrant red and pink coloring throughout and no visible wear, creases, or damage.
Common. This note is part of a regular-issue series spanning 1968-1974 with presumably substantial print runs. eBay market data shows typical UNC examples selling in the $12–$29 range, with VF examples at $2–$10, indicating ready availability in the collector market. No evidence of short print runs, recall, or scarcity in any grade.
This banknote commemorates two pivotal figures in Venezuelan and broader Latin American independence: Simón Bolívar, known as 'El Libertador' (The Liberator), and Francisco de Miranda, a precursor to independence. The reverse features the National Pantheon (Panteón Nacional) in Caracas, the repository of Venezuela's most revered historical figures, reflecting the note's role in celebrating the nation's revolutionary heritage during the 1969 issuance period.
The obverse features two inward-facing male portrait busts representing Simón Bolívar (left) and Francisco de Miranda (right), separated by an ornate central rosette medallion with fine decorative patterns. Denomination numerals '5' appear in decorative frames at all four corners. The reverse depicts the National Pantheon of Caracas as a classical domed cathedral structure with flanking towers and a mountainous backdrop, with the Venezuelan coat of arms positioned at left and a large ornamental circular rosette containing the numeral '5' at right. Throughout both sides, the design employs elaborate guilloche patterns and fine-line engraving, rendered primarily in shades of red and pink on a cream/beige background.
FRONT: 'BANCO CENTRAL DE VENEZUELA' (Central Bank of Venezuela), 'CARACAS' (city of issue), 'Abril 29 - 1969' (April 29, 1969), 'BOLÍVAR LIBERTADOR' (Bolívar the Liberator), 'FRANCISCO DE MIRANDA' (Francisco de Miranda), 'CINCO BOLÍVARES' (Five Bolívares), 'PAGADEROS AL PORTADOR EN LAS OFICINAS DEL BANCO' (Payable to bearer at the offices of the bank), Serial number 'J3130152'. BACK: 'BANCO CENTRAL DE VENEZUELA' (Central Bank of Venezuela), 'CARACAS' (city), 'CINCO BOLÍVARES' (Five Bolívares), 'PANTEON NACIONAL' (National Pantheon), 'THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY LIMITED' (printer attribution).
Intaglio engraving (recess printing), characteristic of high-security banknote production by Thomas De La Rue. The fine-line guilloche patterns, detailed architectural rendering, and crisp portrait definition observed in the UNC example all reflect the meticulous engraved plate work and multi-color printing typical of De La Rue's premium security banknote production methods of this era.
This example bears the serial number prefix 'J' (visible as 'J3130152'), consistent with the documented range H-J serial prefixes for this issue. The specific date visible is 'Abril 29 - 1969', corresponding to the April 29, 1969 authorization date. No significant varieties (signatures, overprints, or design modifications) are evident from the visual analysis; this represents a standard example of the P-50b denomination from the regular 1969 release.
