Banco Central de Venezuela (B.C.V.) put into circulation new coins of different denominations such as: 1,5,10, 12 ½, 25, 50 centavos and 1 Bolívar Fuerte. The one and five cents are in red, the rest of the denominations in gray and the unit is a bi-metallic coin.

Also, B.C.V. put into circulation new bank notes of different denominations such as: 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Bolívares Fuerte. All of them were issued by Casa de la Moneda de Venezuela and going to replace the old denominations of 1,000; 2,000; 5,000; 10,000; 20,000 and 50,000 Bolívares.

The vertical design is the must significant graphic element incorporated on face. For example, on Bs F. 2 is Gen. Miranda on blue on face. On back is ‘gusano flor’ and Coro Dunes. On Bs. F. 5 is Lt. Pedro Camejo, better known as “Negro Primero” on ochre. On back is a scenic view of the Venezuelan plains and the “cachicamo” (armadillo). On Bs. F. 10 is the Indian Chief Guaicaipuro on terra-cotta. On back is the ‘Aguila Arpia’ (Arpia Eagle) and the Ucaima Falls in Canaima National Park. On Bs. F. 20 is Luisa Caceres de Arismendi, a heroine of the independence, on pink. On back is the Carey Turtle and the Macanao Mountains in the Margarita Island. On Bs. F. 50 is Don Simón Rodriguez on green. On back is a “Oso frontino” (Black Bear) and Santo Cristo Lake in Merida state. Finally, on Bs. F 100 is the Liberator Simón Bolívar on brown. On back is the national bird, the Cardenal and a scenic view of “Cerro Avila” (Avila Peak).

The new family of Venezuelan notes represents the ‘nationality and ethnicity origins’ such as: Guaicaipuro (Indian Chief); Pedro Camejo (Black) and Luisa Caceres (the first woman on Venezuelan paper money) and also, the ‘biodiversity which is in danger of extinction’ according to the president of Banco Central, Gaston Parra.

There are a couple of bank notes such as 200 Bolívares Fuerte will be Gran Mariscal Antonio J. de Sucre and probably 500 Bolívares Fuerte, the famous patriot and writer Rafael María Baralt, which will not circulate yet. The new coat of arms (white horse running to the left) appears on all denominations on back.

Also, I would like to share with you a brief biographies that I found about very important people in Venezuela’s history such as: Gen. Francisco de Miranda, Lt. Pedro Camejo, Indian Chief Guaicaipuro, Luisa Caceres de Arismendi, Don Simón Rodriguez, the Liberator Simon Bolivar and Marshall Antonio J. de Sucre.

Gen. Francisco de Miranda (Bs. F. 2)

Miranda was born in Caracas on March 28, 1750, the son of a Spaniard from Canary Islands. Fairly in life he entered the Spanish Army and went to Madrid supplied with ample funds and letters of introduction. He bought a captaincy and began to keep the dairy, which in time became the nucleous of an immense archive. His military career was not fortunate. Accused of neglet of duty, he was eventually cleared and was sent to Cuba, where he again fell out with the authorities.

In 1783, he left the Spanish Army and fled to the United States. Henceforth, Miranda was in open rebellion against the Spanish Crown. Spurred by the example of the 13 colonies that had achieved independence from England, he aspired to set up an independent empire in Hispanic America. Among his friends in the United States were such men as Washington, Hamilton and Thomas Paine. Constantly hounded by Spanish agents he visited England, Prussia, Austria, Italy, Turkey and Russia. Catherine the Great took a liking to him and allowed him to wear the Russian uniform and use a Russian passport.

In 1790, he offered his services to French Army. He fought in several wars during French Revolution and his name was later inscribed at the Arc of Triumph in Paris and he became the only Latin American, which appears there.

In 1810, he met the envoy of revolutionary Venezuela, Simon Bolivar. Bolivar induced Miranda to return to his native country, and after 40 years of absence, the aging conspirator again set foot in his homeland. In addition, Miranda was creator of Venezuelan flag and later Colombia and Ecuador adopted the same colors and its symbolize emancipation from Spain in South America.

Also, Gen. Miranda suggested to Venezuelan Congress to issue some bank notes of denominations: 1,2,4,8, and 16 Pesos. In 1811 those notes were put into circulation but only for one year. So, Venezuela became the first country, which issued notes in Spanish America.

Venezuela into civil war, Miranda concluded an armistice with the Spanish counterrevolutionary Monteverde. The victorious Monteverde sent him to Spain and threw into prison, where in 1816 he died in Cadiz, in the fortress of the Four Towers.

As a result of Miranda’s contributions to the American Revolution, a park in Pensacola, Florida, a statue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a commuter bus in Chicago, Illinois, were dedicated in tribute of this notable patriot who eventually took part in revolutions on three continents.

Miranda’s portrait had appeared only on notes of 5 Bolivares since 1968 until 1974 and the same design in 1989 with his friend Bolivar. Then he appears on 5,000 Bolívares (2002). Now Miranda’s portrait is on 2 Bolívares Fuerte (2007).

Lt. Pedro Camejo “Negro Primero” (Bs. F. 5)

Pedro Camejo was born in San Juan de Payara, Apure State in 1790. He was a slave of Vicente Alonzo in Apure ranch. At the beginning of the War of Independence was part of the army realistic. Then he joins the patriot army in 1816, forming ranks in Apure with Gen. Paez, who was said brought a great friendship.

Although it did not have any intellectual training, Camejo was better known as “Negro Primero” (First Black), which was inspired by his bravery and skill in handling the spear and that was always the first line of attack on the battlefield.

In 1818, when the overall leader Simón Bolívar arrived at San Juan de Payara, in the course of the Central Campaign, saw Camejo for the first time. The courage and the strength warrior, along with the references given by Gen. Paez about it, aroused the interest of the Liberator who engage then a brief chat; Bolívar make a few questions which were answered by Camejo with ingenuity and simplicity to explaining the reasons that led him to join the ranks of the army had been greed; but then he realized that the fight had other purposes higher.

He was one of the 150 lancers who participated in the Battle of the Queseras del Medio (1819) and on that occasion, he received the Order of the Liberators of Venezuela and reached the level of Lieutenant.

On June 24, 1821, in the Battle of Carabobo, Camejo was a member of one of the cavalry regiments of the first division of Gen. Paez. Paéz was one of the heroes but he lost his faithful follower and who had accompanied him for several years, the brave Pedro Camejo, who told him in the middle of the battle: “My General, I come to say goodbye because I’m dead,” he fell mortally wounded by the first shots.

Camejo is the only black man with statues in Venezuela in honor of his courage. One of them is located in his hometown and it is an equestrian sculpture known as “Man on a Horse” but the llaneros (plainsmen) call “The Statue of First Black”.

Camejo’s portrait is on 5 Bolivares Fuerte (2007) and this portrait was inspired in the bust, made by the sculptor Antonio Rodriguez, which is at Carabobo Square in Caracas, Venezuela. Also, this bank note is in tribute of a brave man who fought and died in the Battle of Carabobo to consolidate the independence of Venezuela.

Indian Chief Guaicaipuro (Bs. F. 10)

Guaicaipuro, was an Indian Chief of both the Teques and Caracas tribes. Like others Caciques in Latin America he was both admired and obeyed. His opinion was the law of the region. He administrated justice. Also, he had physical courage and the strength of character of a natural leader.

He formed a powerful coalition of different tribes, which he led during part of the XVI century against the Spanish conquest of Venezuelan territory. Also, his allies in the north central valleys attacked the Spanish gold mines and settlements and forced them to leave. Baruta, his son, became a cacique of one of the tribes.

After these successes Guaicaipuro became the main and central figure in the uprising of all the natives tribes in the vicinity of the Caracas valley, and managed to unite all the tribes under his command. In 1562 they defeated an expeditionary force led by Luis Narvaez. Due to the fierce attacks, the Spanish retreated away from the area for several years.

In January 1567, Diego de Losada traveled to Caracas with an expedition of experienced army. On July 25, 1567 Losada founded Santiago de León de Caracas. Caracas was an Indian word for a plant, similar to yucca, that was common in the area, but the Spaniards thought it was the name of the place. Caracas’ Valley was discovered previously by another Spanish explorer named Francisco Fajardo in 1560. Caracas became the capital of Venezuela in 1577

At the beginning of 1569, Losada and his army came to Mariara and later came to Valle del Miedo (Valley Fear), Guaicaipuro’s dominion. Spanish forces beat Indians in a cruel battle. Losada appointed Francisco Infante to capture Guaicaipuro but he was killed during the battle.

Guaicaipuro’s remains have never been found. However his remains were moved symbolically to the National Pantheon on December 8th, 2001. Every year on October 12 was celebrated “Dia de la Raza” (America’s Discovery Day) but recently was renamed as the Day of the Indigenous Resistance in tribute to 33 indigenous tribes that still remaining in Venezuela, which represents 7% of the total population.

Guaicaipuro’s portrait is on 10 Bolívares Fuerte (2007). He is one of the most famous and celebrated Venezuelan Indian Chiefs.

Luisa Caceres de Arismendi (Bs. F. 20)

During the Independence War in South America, also some women participated fighting in the battlefields or carrying messages to the revolutionary leaders. Luisa Caceres was one of them. She was born in Caracas on September 25, 1799. His father José Domingo Caceres who was notable person in his time: historian, grammarian and pedagogic. Her mother was Carmen Diaz.

On July 7th, 1814 some twenty thousand Caracans, with Simón Bolívar at their head, begin the migration to Oriente. Also Caceres emigrated to Orient with her family, specifically to Margarita Island. There she married with an Army Col. Juan Bautista Arismendi on December 4th.

In 1815, Luisa Caceres was held prisoner by Gen. Morillo because she refused to tell where was her husband. Col. Arismendi wrote to Gen. Morillo: “If I don’t have a homeland, what do I need a wife for.” The pregnant wife was carried to Castle of Santa Rosa in La Asunción, Margarita Island. While being held in the dungeon, the 16 years-old Caceres had a baby daughter, who was born dead, to cause of the bad treatments in the vaults of the Castle.

Few months later, Caceres was sent to La Guaira and then transferred to Caracas where stayed there for several weeks in the convent Immaculate Conception. In 1816, Caceres was embarked to Cadiz, Spain with other patriotic prisoners. During the travel to Spain the boat was attacked by American boat and the prisoners were disembarked in Azores Islands.

Finally, Caceres arrived to Cadiz in 1817. Then Spanish authorities offered her freedom if she signs a document resigning about her ideas of independence and she responded: “I do not resign to my duties”. With a valuable intervention of an English friend and Francisco Carabaño it manages to escape itself from Spain to United Sates.

Caceres arrives at Philadelphia in May 1818 and after receiving the news of her victorious husband Gen. Arismendi, she decide to return in July of the same year, being receiving with the right tribute of a town that saw her as a faith symbol, like an alive lesson.

Luisa Caceres de Arismendi died in Caracas in 1866. Her remains are in the National Pantheon to perpetuate her exemplary name as one of the founder of the mother country. Venezuelan women had a distinguished participation in the independence war. Caceres was one of 50 women republican agents executed during the rebellion. She passed to the posterity like Martyr symbol of the freedom. Caceres’ portrait is on 20 Bolívares Fuerte (2007). This portrait was inspired in a painting made by Emilio J. Mauri.

Don Simón Rodriguez (Bs. F. 50)

Don Simón Rodriguez was born in Caracas in 1769. His parents were Don Cayetano Carreño and Rosalía Rodriguez. He adopted his mother’s last name after a discussion with his elder brother Cayetano.

Rodriguez was an educator and among his pupils was Simón Bolívar. Rodriguez begun his lessons about time Bolívar’s mother died, and Bolívar later acknowledged the power of the enlightenment ideas Rodriguez conveyed: “ You have molded my heart for liberty, justice, greatness and beauty. I have followed the path you traced for me.” Their relationship had its fullest effect for five years.

In the mid- 1797 Rodriguez was working as typesetter for three years in Baltimore, USA. He returned to Europe because he was a devoted of Jean-Jacques Rouseau and French Revolution ideologies in 1801. He traveled around Europe for long-time.

In the spring of 1804, Bolívar reacquainted with Rodriguez, who now reside in Paris. There, Bolívar resumed his studies with his boyhood mentor, who introduced him to the philosophy of several rationalist thinkers, as well the more recent teachings of Montesquieu, Voltaire, and especially Rousseau, who had a profound impact on Bolívar’s evolving political philosophy. During this time, Bolívar and Rodriguez also were eye-witnesses of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Crowning.

In 1805, Bolívar went to Vienna, to visit his old tutor, Rodriguez, with whom set out on a walking trip to Rome. Admirers accept the dramatic story that while in Rome Bolívar took Rodriguez to the top of Mount Sacro. There, Bolívar swore to God he would never rest until his homeland was independent.

Later, Rodriguez returned to South America. In Bolivia and Chile, he founded technical schools to teach a trade for young people, which lacked money. In Ecuador, he was a botanical and agricultural professor. Rodriguez had an adventurer spirit and he used to say: “I don’t want to seem me to the trees, that take roots in a single place; but to the wind, the water, the sun, all those things that march incessantly”.

In 1828, he wrote his first book titled “ Extracto Sucinto sobre la Educacíon Republicana” (Brief Summary about Republican Education). In 1830, appears other book titled “El Libertador del Mediodía de America” (The Liberator at Midday of America) and “Sociedades Americanas” (American Societies) in 1842.

Simón Rodriguez died in Amatope, Perú on February 28, 1854. His portrait is on notes of 20,000 Bolívares (1998) at right in Venezuela and he is considered the educator of a continent. Now Rodriguez’s portrait is on 50 Bolívares Fuerte (2007).

Simón Bolívar (Bs. F. 100)

Simón Bolivar was born into a wealthy Creole family in Caracas, on July 24, 1783. His father, Juan Vicente Bolívar, was rich and owned a great deal of land but died while Simón was only a child. His mother, Maria de la Concepción Palacios, died too when he was a boy so that other people had to bring him up. He was educated in Europe.

At the end of 1806, Bolívar went on to the United States. He desembarked in Boston. Then he traveled from Boston to New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington City (D.C.), and Mount Vernon, Va, observing the nation with its brand-new constitution. From Charleston, S.C. he took a trading ship to La Guaira in the summer of 1807.

Revered by many South Americans as “El Libertador”, also called by some historians the “George Washington of South America”. Simon Bolivar led a successful 14 years revolution to relinquish Spain’ s colonial rule of the area that comprises Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.

During this conflict, he earned a reputation as a resolute commander and exceptional military tactician, but perhaps his most enduring contribution to the South American independence movement was his political vision for the colonies he liberated. This vision consisted of an unusual combination of authoritarianism and republicanism.

Ultimately, Bolivar’s lifelong ambition was to replace the Spanish colonial system in Latin America with a closely allied confederation of republic (also known as Gran Colombia) that shared common political and economical goals.

On December 17, 1830, Bolivar died of tuberculosis near the town of Santa Marta, Colombia. His remains were carried out to Venezuela in 1842.

On March 31, 1879, under second presidency period of Gen. Guzman Blanco, was adopted “Silver Bolivar” as currency unit of Venezuela. Also, his portrait appears in several South American countries above mentioned.

Also, in Venezuela he had appeared on paper money of several denominations such as: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 Bolivares. Also, on notes of Bs. 1,000 (1991/98); 5,000 (1994). Now on 100 Bolívatres Fuerte. This portrait correspond of a famous painting known as “Bolívar Diplomatico” (Diplomatic Bolivar), which was painted by Rita Matilde de la Peñuela in 1860, thirty-years after his death.

Marshall Antonio J. de Sucre ( Bs. F 200)

Antonio Jose de Sucre was born on February 3, 1795, in Cumaná (capital of Sucre state today) at northeast of Venezuela. Son of Don Vicente Sucre and Manuela Alcalá. He received his education in Caracas where in 1808 he started his studies of mathematics and, subsequently, of engineering.

In the Patriot Army he began his brilliant military career in 1810, involved in the Independence War, leaving apparent his intelligence, his nobility and, above all, his moral integrity. Sucre played a large role in the military and political liberation of several South American countries and he achived extraordinary military success and fought alongside Libertador Simón Bolívar.

Among his military victories of major relevance are: Battle of Boyacá, Colombia (1819) which secured the independence of Colombia; Yaguachi, Ecuador (1821); Pichincha, Ecuador (1822) which secured the independence of Ecuador; Pasto, Colombia (1822); Junin, Peru (1824) and finally in Ayacucho, Peru (1824) the place where he received a promotion to Grand Marshall for consolidating the independence from Spain for the entire northwest of South America.

On the other hand, for his large trajectory and his honesty, Sucre was named by Simón Bolívar, president for life of the rising Republic of Bolivia, as well as the first president of this country in 1826, a position practiced for two years due to a failed rebellion depressed him even more. He became desperate to return to Quito, Ecuador, where, in 1828, he married his longtime sweetheart Marquis Mariana Carcelén and he established his permanent home.

In January 1830, Sucre was designated President of the Constituent Congress of Colombia. Soon after he received Bolivar’s presidency resignation from the Republic of Colombia.The formal desintegration of Gran Colombia was just months ahead.

On June 4, 1830 when he was going to Quito, Ecuador, he died of musket fire in the Berruecos Mountains in Pasto province in southern Colombia. In 1842, Jose Maria Obando was indicated like intelectual author and an undistinguished army Colonel Apolinar Morillo was convicted for this crime.

The portrait of this Venezuelan revolutionary and notable statesman had appeared also on notes of Ecuador, Bolivia and Colombia. Ecuador adopted “Sucre” as the monetary unit in tribute to him. Actually, in Venezuela he had appeared since 1994 on notes of 2,000 Bolivares and then Antonio J. de Sucre is on 10,000 Bolívares with the leyend “República Bolivariana de Venezuela” and now probably in the highest denomination of 200 Bolívares Fuerte (2007).

References:

“Grand Marshall Antonio José de Sucre”, Vol. 37, No. 2, 1998, pp. 40-41

“Who’s Who on Venezuelan Notes”, Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 38-41, 2002
by Miguel Chirinos

“Who’s Who on Venezuelan Notes”, Part II, Vol. 42, No. 4, pp. 33-36, 2004
w/o illustration, by Miguel Chirinos

www.wikipedia.com

Written by: Miguel Chirinos, I.B.N.S. # 5992