Bolivia 5, 10, 20, 50 Centavos 1893 to 1942

Bolivia, officially known as the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country located in western-central South America. This country was colonized by the Spanish conquistadors. From 1825 it is a democratic republic that is divided into nine Departments (Departamentos). The obverse of the coin shows 9 stars, which symbolize the nine departments.

The coat of arms of Bolivia appears within a circular border. The silver mountain Potosi is recognized by its mine entrance. The sun rises above the mountain and an alpaca, palm tree and wheat appear at its base.

There are several different patterns for Bolivian coins of this period. This page applies only to those with a winged caddeus (with two snakes) on the reverse side. Depending on date and denomination, different compositions are used, including coins in copper-nickel, zinc, and bronze.

Catalog values for these coins run roughly like this:

5 CENTAVOS 1893 to 1919, copper-nickel
worn: $3 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: $5
well preserved: $10
fully uncirculated: $25
5 centavos dated 1902, 1907, 1909, and 1935 are common, divide values by 2

10 CENTAVOS 1897 to 1936, copper-nickel
worn: $2 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: $5
well preserved: $10
fully uncirculated: $20
10 centavos dated 1901 are rare, multiply these values by 5
10 centavos dated 1935, 1936, and 1939 are common, divide these values by 3

10 CENTAVOS 1942, zinc
worn: less that $1 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: $1
well preserved: $3
fully uncirculated: $10

20 CENTAVOS 1942, zinc
worn: less than $1 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: $1
well preserved: $2
fully uncirculated: $6

50 CENTAVOS 1939, copper-nickel, 27 mm diameter
worn: less that $1 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: less that $1
well preserved: $1
fully uncirculated: $2

50 CENTAVOS 1942, bronze, 23 mm diameter
worn: less that $1 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: less than $1
well preserved: $2
fully uncirculated: $3

Our Terminology page tells you how to convert these inflated catalog values to actual buy and sell values.
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Coin: 1068, Genre: Colonizers and Colonies, Timeline: World
Created (yyyymm): 200907, Last review: 201903
Appearance: Normal round coin Metallic brown Metallic gray Letters: Latin
Years: sort: 1893, filter: 1893 to 1942
Image: bolivia_10_centavos_1909.jpg
Tags: 10th fern camels palmetto encircled circles twigs loop palmtree republicas fronds dwelling circumscribed broadsword mountains trees reipvblicae alpacas boliviana circumscibed fort sworeds sun republik circuit circal sunshine bough pine saber barn dromedary 50th fron twig sprigs bolivian rings limb swords leafed liafy branch 5th caddeus oak alpaca repub leaves centavo republique leavs foliage battlements sunrise courthouse circlet leaf asp sola star repvbliqve circle bolivianos hills sprays building sword casa ferns sticks repbulique sprig repvblique branched repvblica branches palms starrs snakes residence volcanoes centavos palm llama sunburst republicans sunlight boliviano tree stick boughs circling loops dessert diez architectural stars boulivia wheat skyline encircles caducceus volcanos republicia leave circular circel sol incircled centaos encircle republika wheats ivy caduceus architecture stalk spray sunset llamas repvbblica leaved leafs buildings home 20th house winged branching republiek wheatie drommedaris cabin frond ringed republican camel bolivia circumference volcano workhouse rebublique hill skyscraper wings snake encircling circled houses greenery camal bolivariana buildin elm sols ring eruption serpent hut moutains wing swordlike bush leafe republ lama mountain stalks desert republica asps republiove structure leafy republic centanos