The Bank of the Republic
Thousand Pesos · the Bolívar series (1990–1996) and the Gaitán series (2001–2006)
Nineteen copies of Mil Pesos document the evolution of this denomination over seventeen years: first with the portrait of Simón Bolívar and the Battle of the Vargas Swamp on the reverse, and since 2001 with the portrait of the popular leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán. Each date represents a different issue, with its own serial numbering and, in one case, a printing error.
Simón Bolívar Series · Monument at Pantano de Vargas
1990–1996 · Obverse: portrait of Bolívar with the monument’s viñeta (vignette). Reverse: equestrian scene “A LOS HÉROES DEL PANTANO DE VARGAS 1819”.
Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Series
2001–2006 · Obverse: portrait of Gaitán in front of a crowd. Reverse: Gaitán with his arm raised and the phrases “I AM NOT A MAN, I AM A PEOPLE” and “THE PEOPLE ARE SUPERIOR TO THEIR LEADERS”.
Printing Error
Vargas Swamp and Simón Bolívar
The reverse of the early series depicts the Battle of Pantano de Vargas (July 25, 1819), a decisive engagement in the Liberation Campaign that opened the way to final independence at the Battle of Boyacá a few days later. The vignette reproduces the equestrian monument erected at the site, by Colombian sculptor Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt. The 1990 and 1992 banknotes bear the denomination “MIL PESOS ORO”; beginning in 1994, coinciding with Miguel Urrutia Montoya’s appointment as General Manager of Banco de la República, the legend was shortened to “MIL PESOS” and the new “Gerente General / Gerente Ejecutivo” signature format was adopted.
Jorge Eliécer Gaitán, “I Am the People”
Jorge Eliécer Gaitán (1903–1948), lawyer and liberal political leader, was one of the most influential figures in 20th century Colombian history. His murder in Bogotá on April 9, 1948 triggered the “Bogotazo” and marked the beginning of the period known as La Violencia. The bill portrays him before a crowd in black and white, with two of his most famous phrases printed on the reverse: “I am not a man, I am a people” and “The people are superior to their leaders”, a synthesis of his popular leadership.
About the Printing Error
The May 30, 2003 example has a thick black ink bar covering the area for the General Manager’s and Executive Manager’s signatures —a printing defect that escaped quality control before entering circulation. Compared with the regular example of the same date in the main series, the contrast clearly shows the nature of the error.
Sources
- Pick, Albert.Standard Catalog of World Paper Money.
- Hernández, Pedro Pablo.Coins and Banknotes of Colombia.
- Heritage Auctions —ha.com(opens in a new tab)
- Numista —numista.com(opens in a new tab)
- Bank of the Republic —banrep.gov.co(opens in a new tab)