In early August 2025, the Banco Central de Bolivia (BCB) issued a polymer commemorative note celebrating 200 years of independence.
The note was planned to be a banknote in the denomination of 200 bolivianos. However, due to internal politics, the BCB was forced to scrap the idea, but since the banknote was already designed, the BCB decided to issue it nonetheless, but without a denomination printed on it. Thus, the note, without a denomination, has no value and is not legal tender.
The Bolivian War of Independence (1809–1825) began with the establishment of government juntas in Sucre and La Paz, after the Chuquisaca Revolution and La Paz revolution. These juntas were defeated shortly thereafter, and the cities fell again under Spanish control. After Simón Bolívar and Antonio José de Sucre defeated the royalists in northern South America, Sucre led a campaign to defeat the royalists in Charcas (a province in northern Bolivia) for good. The last royalist general, Pedro Antonio Olañeta, suffered death and defeat at the hands of his own defected forces at the Battle of Tumusla, the last battle of the Bolivian War of Independence. Bolivian independence was proclaimed on August 6, 1825.
The front of the note features the most important figures who contributed to Bolivia's independence: José Manuel Baca "Cañoto", Simón Bolívar, Bartolina Sisa, Túpak Katari, Alejo Calatayud, Juana Azurduy de Padilla, Antonio José de Sucre and Eustaquio Méndez "El Moto Méndez". It also contains national symbols, including the country's coat of arms, and a MOTION SURFACE® stripe (produced by Crane Currency) with a blue macaw image with a 3D motion effect. The years 1825 / 2025 are featured prominently on the top left of the note. The transparent window contains images of Nevado Illimani (a towering mountain near La Paz), the Salar de Uyuni (he world's largest salt flat), the Bolivian river dolphin, and the text at top, "BICENTENARIO DE BOLIVIA".
The reverse of the note features the facade of the Casa de la Libertad (House of Liberty in Sucre, where the Bolivian declaration of independence was signed on August 6, 1825), trees, a miner's helmet, the figurehead of the National Mint and the Andean Cross. "DOSCIENTOS AÑOS" (200 YEARS) appears at the bottom right of the House of Liberty.
As mentioned above, the design was converted from a 200-boliviano banknote to a souvenir note with no legal tender. The "BS200" (200 bolivianos) microprint in the top and bottom margin, though, was not corrected/changed, so this can be viewed as either an error or simply a remembrance of the evolution of the note.
According to the BCB official press release, the note was sold for 50 bolivianos per piece until August 31, 2025. After that date, any quantity could be purchased for 70 bolivianos each. 1,000,000 notes were produced, in addition to a small number of black folders. The note measures 150 x 70 mm and was printed on the Guardian™ polymer substrate.
