The Cut Notes of Colombia .

 

 

For a number of years during the 1940s, Colombia suffered a shortage of minor silver coin. Denominations such as the 10- and 20-centavos pieces - of good size and .900 fine - disappeared as the price of silver rose and during the period 1942-45 none were struck. In the latter year they re-appeared but in .500 silver. Oddly coins dated to 1951 usually show undertraces (sometimes boldly) of the 1945 date.

The half-peso was a particularly scarce denomination, none having been struck since 1934. In this case, peso notes of El Banco de la República were cut in half and overprinted front and back as shown. There are four such notes, depending on the series date of the original note: 1942, 1943, 1946 or 1947.

Wayne Jacobs is a numismatic expert. Currently secretary and editor of the "Mid-Island Coin Club Numismatic Journal"of Nanaimo, Vancouver Island , British Columbia, he is the award winning author of numerous articles. The MICC journal are hosted here: MICC webpages Copyright 2006 Wayne Jacobs. This article may be reprinted freely for non commercial purpose only if the resource box is left intact, linking back to us.