Coin Specifications
- Denomination / Year: 1 Bolívar — 1945
- Country: Venezuela (officially “United States of Venezuela” at the time)
- Metal / Composition: Silver 835 ‰ (83.5% silver / 16.5% copper)
- Weight: ≈ 5.00 grams
- Diameter: 22.8–23.0 mm (~23 mm)
- Edge: Reeded / serrated
- Mint: United States Mint in Philadelphia — part of the Venezuelan coin series.
- Design:
- Obverse: Coat of arms of Venezuela with the inscription “ESTADOS UNIDOS DE VENEZUELA” and “GRAM. 5 • 1945 • LEI 835” indicating weight and silver purity.
- Reverse: Bust of Simón Bolívar (facing left) with “BOLÍVAR LIBERTADOR” and engraver signature “BARRE” at the base. - Demonetization: The coin is no longer legal tender — this old Bolívar series was discontinued.
Historical Context and Significance
The 1945 1 Bolívar coin is part of a regular circulation series of mid-20th century Venezuela, struck abroad in Philadelphia. Its silver content in a relatively small denomination indicated the backing of precious metal and confidence in intrinsic value — a contrast with later periods of inflation and currency devaluation.
The bust of Simón Bolívar symbolizes the national hero and liberator of Latin America, reinforcing the coin’s symbolic value. The coat of arms and “Estados Unidos de Venezuela” inscription reflect the official name of the republic at that time.
Today, this coin is valued not for its face value but for its numismatic and historical significance — a witness to Venezuela’s economy in the mid-20th century and Bolívar’s enduring legacy.
Numismatic Value: Factors and Estimates
The value of a collectible coin like this depends mainly on:
- Condition (wear, detail sharpness, silver luster, absence of damage)
- Strike quality (clear relief, intact edge, no scratches)
- Collector demand and relative rarity (mintage, survival of high-grade coins)
- Precious metal value (silver), though usually secondary to historical/collector value
According to specialized catalogs:
- Typical market value ranges US$5.5–$8.5 for coins in common to fair condition.
- Coins in excellent condition (almost uncirculated / “FDC”) are rarer and more valuable.
- Lower-grade coins may only be worth slightly more than the silver content.
Some sales list coins in “VF (Very Fine)” condition for around €14.95 on specialized platforms.
Collector Considerations
- Examine your coin carefully: sharp details on the bust, coat of arms, inscriptions, intact edge, and silver luster increase value.
- With a documented mintage of 8,000,000 in 1945, this coin is not extremely rare, but good condition + provenance + historical significance make it desirable.
- Poor condition coins (heavy wear, scratches, corrosion) have low numismatic value.
- For collectors of Latin American or historical silver coins, it is a fine example of mid-20th century coinage and international minting.
