Banco de Carácas Currency & Banknote Values

The Banco de Carácas series of Venezuela in the World Currency contains 19 distinct entries.

Technically, there were three institutions called the Banco de Carácas (Bank of Caracas, BDC) that existed one after the other, but for simplicity’s sake, they are grouped together in this catalog. The first was established on 1 July 1876 to receive national revenues from customs and other collection offices, and advance money to the government. Its capital was limited to 160,000 venezolanos. In mid-1877, its current account credit was reduced to 100,000 venezolanos. Given that the government needed more funds, the first Banco de Caracas was liquidated in July 1877.

The second Banco de Caracas was created by a resolution of the Minister of the Treasury on 27 June 1877. An agreement allowed the use of the first bank’s notes in circulation until new notes could be prepared. On 31 August 1877, the credit was increased to 150,000 venezolanos. The bank was inaugurated on 19 September 1877 with capital of 200,000 venezolanos. On 23 September 1877, the capital was increased again to 327,000 venezolanos. The second Banco de Caracas was liquidated on 27 March 1881.

The third Banco de Caracas began with the capital of 260,000 venezolanos (or 1,300,000 bolívares). It, too, used notes in circulation until new notes could be prepared. In August 1879, the third Banco de Caracas issued notes denominated in bolívares.

The three banks had no relationship with the Banco Carácas established in 1890.