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20 Bolivianos, Bank of the Bolivian Nation, Bolivia, 1911 (Pick 108)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · partial

Period

1911

Issuing entity

Bolivia

This 20 Bolivianos note was issued in Bolivia by the Bank of the Bolivian Nation, dated 1911. It belongs to the First boliviano (1864-1963) currency system. Issuing authority and period recorded in the catalogue: Republic (1825-2009). It measures 184 × 89 mm and is printed on paper. The Standard Catalog of World Paper Money lists the type as Pick 108.

Obverse: Black on multicolor underprint. Mercury seated at center; issuer name on top; face value in numbers on both top corners, and sides of image; on letters below image. Its lettering reads “LA PAZ, 11 de Mayo de 1911 / EL BANCO DE LA NACIÓN BOLIVIANA / PAGARÁ AL PORTADOR A LA VISTA, / 20 20 / VEINTE BOLIVIANOS / EN MONEDA CORRIENTE”. Translation given in the catalogue: “La Paz, May 11th., 1911 The Bank of the Bolivian Nation will pay to the bearer at sight, 20 20 Twenty Bolivianos on legal tender”.

Reverse: Orange print. Coat of arms at center; face value in big numerals on sides of image, in letters above, and issuer name below. Roman numeral divides issuer name. Its lettering reads “VEINTE / 20 20 / BANCO / DE LA NACION XX BOLIVIANA”. Translation given in the catalogue: “Twenty 20 20 Bank of the Bolivian XX Nation”. The note was printed by American Banknote Corporation (American Bank Note Company), United States (1795-date). Signatures recorded for the type: Alberto Zelaya (AZ) (Accountant); Benjamin Cornejo (BC) (Government Delegate); Eugenio Carpentier (EC) (Director-Manager); R. Arauz (RA) (Government Delegate); Héctor Lorini (HL) (Government Delegate); Mariano Aguirre (MA) (Accountant); Jorge E. Zalles (JEZ) (Government Delegate); Guillermo Morris (GM) (Director-Manager) and further combinations. Demonetized: Yes.

Identification note: match the value, issuing bank, printed date and Pick number together; dates and signature combinations distinguish sub-varieties, which are not separated in this entry. Details follow the Numista catalogue entry and the Standard Catalog reference it cites; they have not been checked against a central-bank archive.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
2
Photograph views
2
Catalogue references
2

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

There are 3 major variations on this note: P# 109 : shows "VEINTE BOLIVIANOS" on reverse; same guilloche on front as P# 108; series A, B, C & D; P# 109B : Shows "VEINTE BOLIVIANOS" on reverse, but with different guilloche on observe; series A only. Also, on this note (P#109) there is a variation on serial letters: Series A and B, letter is black, while on series C and D letter is red.

Physical characteristics

Size
184 × 89 mm
Shape
Rectangular
Material
Paper

Technical characteristics

Printer
American Banknote Corporation (American Bank Note Company), United States (1795-date)
Currency
First boliviano (1864-1963)
Signatures
Alberto Zelaya (AZ) (Accountant) · Benjamin Cornejo (BC) (Government Delegate) · Eugenio Carpentier (EC) (Director-Manager) · R. Arauz (RA) (Government Delegate) · Héctor Lorini (HL) (Government Delegate) · Mariano Aguirre (MA) (Accountant) · Jorge E. Zalles (JEZ) (Government Delegate) · Guillermo Morris (GM) (Director-Manager) · J. A. Whitaker (JAW) (Government Delegate) · Juan Perou Cusicanqui (JPC) (Director-Manager) · Ernesto García Pacheco (EGP) (Director-Manager)
Demonetized
Yes
Issuing bank
Bank of the Bolivian Nation

Design

Obverse
Black on multicolor underprint. Mercury seated at center; issuer name on top; face value in numbers on both top corners, and sides of image; on letters below image.
Reverse
Orange print. Coat of arms at center; face value in big numerals on sides of image, in letters above, and issuer name below. Roman numeral divides issuer name.
Obverse lettering
LA PAZ, 11 de Mayo de 1911 / EL BANCO DE LA NACIÓN BOLIVIANA / PAGARÁ AL PORTADOR A LA VISTA, / 20 20 / VEINTE BOLIVIANOS / EN MONEDA CORRIENTE
Reverse lettering
VEINTE / 20 20 / BANCO / DE LA NACION XX BOLIVIANA

Identification

Value
20 Bolivianos
Dates recorded
1911
Distinguishing features
Printed date and signature combination separate sub-varieties
Catalogue number to match
Pick 108

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Research required
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Research required
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

  • Standard Catalog of World Paper Money (Pick)P108
  • NumistaN# 330512

Research required

  • Confirm date and signature varieties against the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money.
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