Venezuela 20,000 Bolívares Fuertes (2017 Hyperinflation Issue / Simón Bolívar)

(Both obverse and reverse faces of the note are shown side-by-side).

• Issuing Authority: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela / Central Bank of Venezuela (República Bolivariana de Venezuela / Banco Central de Venezuela)

• Denomination: 20,000 Bolívares (Veinte Mil Bolívares)

• Series / Era: Bolívar Fuerte (Bs.F) Extended Denomination Series

• Print Date Marked: 13 de Diciembre de 2017 (December 13, 2017)

• Catalog Reference: Pick # 99

• Serial Number: A 94803531 (Printed in black horizontally at upper right; in dark red vertically at lower left)

• Layout Orientation: Vertical format (formato vertical)

• Portrait (Face): Simón Bolívar ("El Libertador" / 1783–1830), military and political leader who led the independence of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia from the Spanish Empire.

• Tactile Feature: Six raised braille-style tactile dots (arranged in two vertical columns of three dots, resembling a domino six) at the upper left for the visually impaired.

• Reverse Vignettes (Shown on right):

  • Fauna: Two Red Siskins (Carduelis cucullata / Cardenalito), an endangered passerine bird native to northern South America.

  • Landscape Background: Tropical dry forest foothills of El Ávila National Park (Parque Nacional El Ávila / Waraira Repano).

  • Coat of Arms: National Coat of Arms of Venezuela at the top center.

• Printer: Casa de la Moneda Venezuela (imprinted at bottom reverse margin).

• Color Palette: Terracotta red, crimson, and coral with soft pale amber, sky blue, and yellow underprinting.

Historical Context

• Hyperinflationary "Emergency" Reissue: As runaway hyperinflation destroyed the purchasing power of the original 2008 denominations (which maxed out at 100 Bolívares), the Central Bank of Venezuela introduced high-denomination bills in 2017 (500 up to 100,000 Bolívares).

• Direct Design Recycled from the 2008 20 Bolívares Note: Notice the exact same portrait of Simón Bolívar and the same color scheme as the original 20 Bolívares note, with three zeros ("000") simply appended to the denomination to rush higher values into circulation.

• Ultra-Short Circulation Lifespan: Dated December 13, 2017, this note circulated for only roughly eight months. In August 2018, Venezuela slashed five zeros off the currency to introduce the Bolívar Soberano, rendering this 20,000-Bolívar note completely obsolete and demonetized.