Venezuela 100,000 Bolívares Fuertes (2017 Hyperinflation Peak Issue / Simón Bolívar)

(Both obverse and reverse faces are displayed side-by-side).

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

• Denomination: 100,000 Bolívares (Cien Mil Bolívares)

• Series / Era: Bolívar Fuerte (Bs.F) Extended Denomination Series — The single highest denomination ever printed in the entire Bolívar Fuerte era.

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

• Catalog Reference: Pick # 100

• Serial Number: C 58233175 (Printed in black horizontally at upper right; in dark green-brown vertically at lower left)

• Layout Orientation: Vertical format (formato vertical)

• Denomination Anomaly / Short-form "100":

  • Large upper numeral boldly states "100", while the text directly beneath reads "CIEN MIL BOLÍVARES" (One Hundred Thousand Bolívares).

  • The Central Bank kept the large numeral as "100" to avoid re-engraving the entire number plate, merely adjusting the subtext and watermark electrotype to read "100 mil".

• Portrait (Face): Simón Bolívar ("El Libertador" / 1783–1830), military hero and statesman.

• Tactile Feature: Two raised braille-style tactile dots arranged vertically at center-left for the visually impaired.

• Reverse Vignettes (Shown on right):

  • Fauna: Two Red Siskins (Carduelis cucullata / Cardenalitos).

  • Landscape Background: The tropical mountain foothills of El Ávila National Park (Parque Nacional El Ávila).

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

• Security Elements: Wide, segmented holographic security thread running horizontally across the midsection.

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

• Color Palette: Warm yellow-gold, chartreuse, olive-green, and dark brown with delicate violet and teal guilloche tints.

Historical Context

• The Absolute Peak of the Bolívar Fuerte: When the Bolívar Fuerte family launched in 2008, 100 Bolívares was the apex denomination. By late 2017, inflation had escalated so uncontrollably that the Central Bank rolled out this 100,000 Bolívares note—a 1,000-fold jump from the original highest note.

• The "Drop-a-Zero" Confusion: By retaining the massive numeral "100" from the 2008 base plate and simply adding "MIL" in smaller letters beneath it, the note caused frequent confusion in street commerce with standard 100 Bolívares notes.

• Instant Extinction: Printed in December 2017, this note survived in circulation for only a few months. When the Bolívar Soberano reform arrived on August 20, 2018 (knocking off five zeros), this massive 100,000 Bolívares bill was legally reduced to worth exactly 1 Bolívar Soberano (a single coin or base bill).