Bolivian boliviano

The boliviano ([boliˈβjano]; sign: Bs[1][2] ISO 4217 code: BOB) is the currency of Bolivia. It is divided into 100 cents or centavos in Spanish. Boliviano was also the name of the currency of Bolivia between 1864 and 1963. From April 2018, the manager of the Central Bank of Bolivia, Pablo Ramos, announced the introduction of the new family of banknotes of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, started with the 10 Bs note, and then gradually arrived to introduce the 200 Bs note, presented in April 2019.[3] The new family of banknotes of the Plurinational State received several awards such as "the best banknotes in Latin America", was highlighted by its security measures, its aesthetics and its inclusion of prominent figures in Bolivian history, being among those who awarded the "Latin American High Security Printing Press Conference".[4]

Bolivian boliviano
boliviano (Spanish)
10 centavos to 5 bolivianos
ISO 4217
CodeBOB (numeric: 068)
Subunit0.01
Unit
SymbolBs[1][2]
Denominations
Subunit
1100centavo
Symbol
centavoc.[1]
BanknotesBs10, 20, 50, 100, 200[1]
Coinsc.10, 20, 50; Bs1, 2, 5[1]
Demographics
Date of introduction1 January 1987
ReplacedBolivian peso
User(s)Bolivia
Issuance
Central bankBanco Central de Bolivia
 Websitewww.bcb.gob.bo
Valuation
Inflation4.3%
 SourceThe World Factbook, 2009 est.

History

Currencies in use before the current second boliviano include:

  • The Spanish real from the 16th to 19th centuries, with 8 reales equal to 1 peso and 16 reales equal to 1 escudo.
  • The Bolivian sol from 1827 to 1864, replacing the Spanish real at par. 16 soles were equal to 1 Bolivian escudo, and 8 soles were equal to 1 boliviano.
  • The first boliviano from 1864 to 1963, worth eight soles and divided into 100 centécimos (later centavos). The name bolivar was used for an amount of ten bolivianos.
  • The peso boliviano (code BOP), from 1963 to 1986, worth 1,000 first bolivianos.

The second boliviano was introduced in 1987 at a rate of 1 boliviano = 1,000,000 pesos bolivianos.

Second boliviano

Following many years of rampant inflation, the bolivian peso was replaced in 1987 by a new boliviano at a rate of one million to one (when 1 US dollar was worth 1.8/1.9 million pesos). At that time, 1 new boliviano was roughly equivalent to 12 U.S. dollar.

Coins

In 1988, stainless-steel 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 centavos and 1 boliviano (dated 1987) coins were introduced, followed by stainless-steel 2 bolivianos in 1991. Copper-plated steel 10 centavos were introduced in 1997 and bi-metallic 5 bolivianos in 2001. The 2 and 5 centavo coins are no longer in circulation. The 2 boliviano coin has been minted in two sizes, both of which remain legal tender. The smaller 2 boliviano coin is almost the same as the 1 boliviano coin, leading to potential confusion, although the 2 boliviano coins are undecagonal whilst the 1 boliviano coins are round.All the coins in Bolivia have the value with the inscription "La union es la Fuerza" ("Union is strength" in Spanish) on the obverse. Older coins feature and the coat of arms of Bolivia with the inscription "Republica de Bolivia" (Republic of Bolivia) on the reverse, while newer ones feature the coat of arms with the inscription "Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia" (Plurinational state of Bolivia).

Coins of the Boliviano (older series)[5]
ObverseReverseValueTechnical parametersDescriptionDate of issue
DiameterMassCompositionEdgeObverseReverse
2 centavos14 mm1 gStainless steelPlain"LA UNIÓN ES LA FUERZA"; "2 CENTAVOS"; Date of issue"REPUBLICA DE BOLIVIA" (REPUBLIC OF BOLIVIA); Coat of arms of Bolivia1987
5 centavos17 mm1.5 g"LA UNIÓN ES LA FUERZA"; "5 CENTAVOS"; Date of issue1987
10 centavos19 mm2.2 g"LA UNIÓN ES LA FUERZA"; "10 CENTAVOS"; Date of issue1987-1997
2.23 gCopper plated steel1997
1.85 g2001-2008
20 centavos22 mm3.66 gStainless steel"LA UNIÓN ES LA FUERZA"; "20 CENTAVOS"; Date of issue1987-2008
50 centavos24 mm3.8 g"LA UNIÓN ES LA FUERZA"; "50 CENTAVOS"; Date of issue1987-2008
1 boliviano27 mm5 g"LA UNIÓN ES LA FUERZA"; "1 BOLIVIANO"; Date of issue1987-2008
2 bolivianos27 mm6.25 g"LA UNIÓN ES LA FUERZA"; "2 BOLIVIANOS"; Date of issue1991
29 mm6.4 g1995-2008
5 bolivianos23 mm5 gBi-metallic: bronze plated steel center with a stainless steel ringReeded"LA UNIÓN ES LA FUERZA"; "5 BOLIVIANOS"; Date of issue2001-2004
Coins of the Boliviano (current series)
ObverseReverseValueTechnical parametersDescriptionDate of issue
DiameterMassCompositionEdgeObverseReverse
10 centavos19 mm2.2 gSteelPlain"LA UNIÓN ES LA FUERZA"; "10 CENTAVOS"; Date of issue"ESTADO PLURINACIONAL DE BOLIVIA" (PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA); Coat of arms of Bolivia2017
20 centavos22 mm3.25 gNickel plated steel"LA UNIÓN ES LA FUERZA"; "20 CENTAVOS"; Date of issue2010-2016
50 centavos24 mm3.75 gStainless steel"LA UNIÓN ES LA FUERZA"; "50 CENTAVOS"; Date of issue2010-2012
1 boliviano27 mm5 g"LA UNIÓN ES LA FUERZA"; "1 BOLIVIANO"; Date of issue2010-2017
2 bolivianos29 mm7 g"LA UNIÓN ES LA FUERZA"; "2 BOLIVIANOS"; Date of issue2010-2017
5 bolivianos23 mm5 gBi-metallic coin consisting of a Bronze-plated steel center plug with a Stainless steel outer ringReeded"LA UNIÓN ES LA FUERZA"; "5 BOLIVIANOS"; Date of issue2017

Banknotes

New family banknotes of Plurinational State of Bolivia

In 1987, last peso boliviano banknotes and cheques de gerência were overprinted with denominations in centavos and bolivianos to produce provisional issues of 1, 5, 10 and 50 centavos, and 1, 5 and 10 bolivianos. Regular issues followed the same year in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 bolivianos. The 2 boliviano note was replaced by a coin in 1991, with the same happening to the 5 boliviano in 2001, although the Bolivian central bank still lists the 5 boliviano note as "in circulation"-The 10 Bolivianos bill has in the obverse to the painter Cecilio Guzman and reverse an image of city of Cochabamba. -The 20 Boliviano bill has in the obverse to the lawyer Pantaleon Dalence and in the reverse an image of The Golden Colonial House of Tarija. The 50 Boliviano bill has in the obverse to the painter Melchor Perez and in the reverse you can see the Tower of Church of the Society of Jesus in the city of Potosi- The 100 Boliviano bill has in the obverse of the great historian Gabriel Rene Moreno and the reverse one image of the Mayor Real and Papal University of Saint Francisco Xavier of Chuquisaca in the capital, the city of Sucre, the 200 Boliviano bill has to the obverse to the writer and former president of Bolivia, Franz Tamayo and in the reverse an image of ruins of the Pre-Inca empire of Tihuanaco in the shores of Lake Titicaca in the state or department of La Paz.

As of 2013. The 2 and 5 Bolivianos bills are officially out of circulation.[6]

In 2018, the Central Bank of Bolivia (Banco Central de Bolivia) unveiled a new family of banknotes, and will be issued by order of denomination. The notes are the first to bear the formal name of Bolivia "Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia" (Plurinational State of Bolivia), to reflect the multiculturalism of the country and all of its citizens.

Banknotes of the Boliviano (current series)
ImageValueMain ColorObverseReverseWatermark
[1]2 bolivianosGrayAntonio Vaca DiezPando refugeSimón Bolívar
[2]5 bolivianosGreenAdela ZamudioVirgen del Socavon churchSimón Bolívar
[3]10 bolivianosBlueCecilio Guzman de Rojas"Heroinas de la Coronilla" monument in CochabambaSimón Bolívar
[4]20 bolivianosOrangePantaleon DalenceCasa Dorada in TarijaSimón Bolívar
[5]50 bolivianosPurpleMelchor Pérez de HolguinTorre de la CompañiaSimón Bolívar
[6]100 bolivianosRedGabriel René MorenoSan Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca University in SucreSimón Bolívar
[7]200 bolivianosBrownFranz TamayoTiahuanacoSimón Bolívar
Banknotes of the Boliviano (2018 – 2019 series)
ImageValueMain ColorObverseReverseWatermark
10 bolivianosBlueJosé Santos Vargas "El Tambor Vargas", Apiaguaiki Tumpa, Eustaquio Méndez "El Moto Méndez". Umajalanta Cavern (Torotoro National Park)Landscape of Isla del Pescado in Salar de Uyuni salt flat. Giant hummingbird and Puya raimondiiJosé Santos Vargas, drum and electrotype 10
20 bolivianosOrangeGenoveva Ríos, Tomás Katari and Pedro Ignacio Muiba. El Fuerte de SamaipataBlack caiman and Toborochi (Ceiba speciosa)Genoveva Ríos and electrotype 20
50 bolivianosPurpleJosé Manuel Baca "Cañoto", Bruno Racua, Pablo Zárate also known as Willka. Incallajta FortressNevado Sajama, Andean flamingo and QuinoaJosé Manuel Baca "Cañoto", guitar and electrotype 50
100 bolivianosRedJuana Azurduy de Padilla, Alejo Calatayud, Antonio José de Sucre. National Mint of BoliviaArco Iris Waterfall, Heliconia rostrata, Hyacinth Macaw
200 bolivianosBrownTúpac Katari, Bartolina Sisa, Simón Bolivar. House of FreedomTiwanaku, Cantua buxifolia, Andean Mountain Cat
Current BOB exchange rates
From Google Finance:AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD RUB BRL ARS
From Yahoo! Finance:AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD RUB BRL ARS
From XE.com:AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD RUB BRL ARS
From OANDA:AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD RUB BRL ARS

Manufacture and production

As of 2013 the Boliviano is still manufactured abroad, in countries such as the United Kingdom, France, and Chile, even though Bolivia has been politically independent since 1825.[citation needed]

Though Bolivia was one of the main mints of the colonial era (casa de la moneda, Potosí) the coining and printing of currency stopped due to lack of political interest and on the idea that foreign made coins and banknotes could be acquired at a lower price than the Bolivian-made coins and banknotes.

US dollar-related currency (MVDOL)

MVDOL (ISO 4217 code BOV) is a unit of currency (account). It has a value, inflation-adjusted between the Bolivian boliviano and the US dollar. It is used in financial instruments due to its stable value.

The name wikt:MVDOL is derived from moneda nacional con mantenimiento de valor al dólar estadounidense ([Bolivian] national currency with value maintained to the US dollar).

See also

References

  • Krause, Chester L.; Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801–1991 (18th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0873411501.
  • Pick, Albert (1994). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: General Issues. Colin R. Bruce II and Neil Shafer (editors) (7th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-207-9.
  • Pick, Albert (1990). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: Specialized Issues. Colin R. Bruce II and Neil Shafer (editors) (6th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-149-8.

External links