20 Bolivares VEF #585

Front

Jaguar (Panthera onca), the largest cat species in the Americas and a keystone predator of Venezuela's diverse ecosystems including the Llanos plains and Amazonian rainforest. The note identifies it as inhabiting Parque Nacional Waraira Repano (formerly known as El Ávila National Park), the mountain range protecting Caracas. The jaguar has deep cultural significance in indigenous Venezuelan mythology and represents the country's commitment to wildlife conservation.

Back

Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi (1799-1866), Venezuelan independence heroine who endured imprisonment and torture by Spanish royalists while pregnant, refusing to betray the independence cause even after losing her child. Wife of independence leader Juan Bautista Arismendi, she became a symbol of women's courage and sacrifice during Venezuela's wars of independence. She is one of the most honoured female figures in Venezuelan history, representing resilience and patriotism.

History

This note belongs to the Bolivar Fuerte (Strong Bolivar) series introduced on January 1, 2007, when Venezuela redenominated its currency by removing three zeros from the old bolivar (VEB) due to inflation. The series was issued from 2007 until 2018, when hyperinflation necessitated another redenomination to the Bolivar Soberano. The 20 bolivares denomination was part of the initial release and featured Venezuela's wildlife and independence heroes. This series was demonetized on August 20, 2018. The design emphasizes both natural heritage (the jaguar, Venezuela's apex predator) and independence history (Luisa Cáceres). The serial number format and prefix structure are standard for this series, with no documented serial-year encoding. This particular note with serial S04553177 would have been from the regular production run.