In the history of our country, we find stories of the most outstanding facts in the public life of Sucre; therefore, there is no interest in repleating them. Today, we have assigned the Historical Note section to commemorate the bicentennial of the birth of the Great Marshal as it is logical, in agreement with the nature of this bulletin, and the relation of this famous person with numismatics.

Synthesis of the Person

Antonio Jose de Sucre was born on February 3, 1795 and was educated in Caracas. From the time that he was a boy, he had a great affection for mathematics, which greatly influenced him in his character. From an early age he connected to the fight for liberty. He served at the orders of General Miranda and then his rise in the patriotic ranks of the Liberators was spectacular since he rapidly became a general. In Pichincha (May 24, 1822) he consolidated the independence of Ecuador and in Ayacucho that of Peru (December 9, 1824) he was promoted by Bolivar to the rank of Grand Marshal on December 27, 1824. Through his virtues he was loved and respected by all. Inexplicably, he was assassinated in the flower of his youth on July 4, 1830 at Berruecos Mountain.

Sucre and Banknotes

Venezuela, place of his birth, Colombia, Euador and Bolivia have rendered homage to his memory by reporducing his image on banknotes.

Venezuelan Banknotes in 10 Bolivares denominations, issues of 1940/52/60/66 and 1971.

In Ecuador:

The first banknote with the figure of Sucre was issued by the International Bank of Guayaquil in the time period 1880-1890. Designed so that the date could be put in by hand, it was printed by the firm of Waterlow and Sons, London, for the valueof one Sucre. Afterwards, the Central Bank of Ecuador issued another in a five (5) Sucre denomination.

In Bolivia:

The Bank of Commerce, issued with the figure of Sucre banknotes in a denomination of five (5) bolivianos. The Bank of Postosf issued one in a one (1) boliviano denomination, and afterwards the Central Bank of Bolivia issued notes in several denominations.

In Colombia:

The Bank of Riohacha ordered the American Bank Note Company to fabricate a series of very beautiful banknotes in which one featured the likeness of Sucre, dated January 1, 1883, in a $10 denomination. It is not certain that these banknotes were issued due to special circumstances that were present in the country for private banking. Many of the banknotes that were ordered made were not issued, and for others that had better luck, their issues were bought in order to supply them as banknotes of the National Bank in 1899.

Bank of Bogota, date to be placed by hand. Not many of these banknotes were known to be issued by the bank since they were stamped with a national seal in 1899 and were circulated as notes of the National Bank. The Colombian Bank Note Company, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. printed this series of banknotes of Bogota. In each denomination a hero of independence was placed on each denomination. The $10 denomination carried the likeness of Sucre.

Mortgage draft of the Bank of Sucre, medellin, 1913, $0.50, denomination.

The Bank of the Republic in its first issue, 1923, took into account the likeness of Sucere in the $50 denomination and continued it in 1926/28/44/45/47/50/51/53/58 looking at the left and afterwards the same figure looking at the right in the years 1958/60/64/67.

Numismatic Iconography of Sucre:

The same simple temperament of Marshal Sucre contributed so that there would not remain for posterity a numerous and faithful record of his image. Thus, we find him in 1882, when Rafael Urdaneta, director and owner of the Papel Periodico Illustrado (Illustrated Paper Periodical) explains how he chose the engraving that we reproduce in the backside of this publication; it is without doubt the base for the likeness consigned in the banknote of the Bank of Bogota. Urdancta says:

"The portrait of Sucre is taken from a photograph of Paredes, copyof a painting of Sr. D. Celestino Martinez, Venezuelan artist, that with pleasure we saw the brushes being managed for a long time among us. It gave so much development to lithography through the years 1850 - 1860. We know that existing documents that assured the resemblance were, for the most part consulted by him and therefore we have preferred the many miniatures which exists in the National Museum since all have seemed to be inferior to us."

It is worth to remember that the engraving that we reproduced in its time was made on wood and with it was printed the periodical, a technique that was called xylography (art of engraving on wood). It was also a skill to reproduce his signature, simple, clear, and without the extravagant ornamentation that the people of that time were accustomed to doing, surely thinking to make it more elegant or illegible.

The likeness of Sucre on the Banknote of the Bank of Bogota is a faithful reproduction of the lithography of Ayala and Medrano, taken at its time from one from manuel Dositeo Carvajal (engraving 0.17 x 0.11 cm.)

The portrait of Sucre that since then (1882) already existed in the National Museum (Catalog of 1886) is a copy that was naturally painted in Quito,which was given as a gift by Nicolas Cabrera in 1822. In it, Sucre was painted as a private citizen, and it served as a base for an engraving that follows and says:

"From a natural portrait, made in oil in Quito for the Senora Marshall Sucre, Marquess of Soldana."

The image is the one that was taken for the Colombian banknote of the Bank of the Republic. Only the jacket was taken off and a dress uniform was put on. One of the eqaulets was not placed very correctly, and to cover, in part, the other side, they placed the signature.

The banknote of Riohacha that is illustrated here has the likeness of an engraving done by Lemoine and printed in Paris by Lemercier, but as it happens with other heros, whose likeness has been engraved in other countries, they have Americanized it and in this case they have given it a French style. Nevertheless, it is the likeness that has been used in Ecuador and in Venezuela, changing it sometimes, appearing onthe left or right, with long hair or short and very curly or not so curly. They have even put a cape on him.

Source: Numismaticos Colombianos, Bogota