500 Bolívares VEF #587

Front

The Tonina or Amazon river dolphin (Sotalia fluviatilis), an endemic freshwater dolphin species found in Venezuela's Orinoco River basin and depicted in its natural habitat among aquatic vegetation. The note also features the Guaiana Flor from Parque Nacional Médanos de Coro, a protected natural area on Venezuela's northwestern coast known for its unique sand dune ecosystem and coastal biodiversity, representing Venezuela's commitment to environmental conservation.

Back

Simón Bolívar (1783–1830), the Venezuelan military and political leader who led the independence movements across much of South America from Spanish rule. Known as El Libertador, Bolívar liberated Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia (named in his honor) from the Spanish Empire and is the most venerated figure in Venezuelan history, appearing on virtually all Venezuelan currency since independence.

History

This note belongs to the Bolívar Fuerte (Strong Bolívar) series introduced in 2007 during President Hugo Chávez's redenomination that removed three zeros from the old Bolívar currency. The 500 Bolívares Fuertes note was introduced on December 27, 2016, as hyperinflation began accelerating in Venezuela. The inscription 'DOS BOLÍVARES' visible on the back is a conversion marker: this note was redenominated as 2 Bolívares Soberanos when the Bolívar Fuerte was replaced in August 2018 by another redenomination removing five zeros. This series featured Venezuelan wildlife and natural landmarks on the obverse with historical figures on the reverse. Serial prefix 'L' corresponds to a 2016–2017 production block. The note became demonetized on August 20, 2018, though it briefly circulated with an overprinted conversion value before full withdrawal.