En el anverso
On the obverse
Busto a la izquierda, con las leyendas BOLÍVAR y LIBERTADOR. Nombre del grabador en la base (BARRE = Albert Désiré Barre).
Bust left, with legends BOLÍVAR and LIBERTADOR. Engraver’s name at base (BARRE = Albert Désiré Barre).
En el reverso
On the reverse
Escudo con la leyenda ESTADOS UNIDOS DE VENEZUELA encima. En la parte inferior: Fecha 1929, peso 10 gramos y composición (pureza metálica) LEI .835 (83,5 % de plata pura).
Coat of arms with legend ESTADOS UNIDOS DE VENEZUELA above. At bottom: Date 1929, weight 10 grams, and composition (metallic millesimal fineness) LEI .835 (83.5 % pure silver).
Images captured with Fujifilm FinePix Z90 digital camera.
Letter written by Simón Bolívar to Antonio José de Sucre - Huamanga, September 4, 1824
. . . . esta es la sola cosa que usted ha hecho en su vida sin talento. Creo que á usted le ha faltado completamente el juicio, cuando usted ha pensado que yo he podido ofenderle. Estoy lleno de dolor por el dolor de usted, pero no tengo el menor sentimiento por haberle ofendido.
. . . . this is the only thing in your life you have done without talent. I believe you were entirely out of your senses when you thought that I could offend you. I am full of sorrow on account of your own sorrow, but I do not feel in the least that I have given you cause for offense.
La comisión que he dado á usted no la quería yo llenar, pensando que usted lo haría mejor que yo por su inmensa actividad; se la conferí á usted más bien como una prueba de preferencia que de humillación. Usted sabe que yo no sé mentir, y también sabe usted que la elevación de mi alma no se degrada jamás al fingimiento. Así, debe usted creerme.
I had wished to attend myself to the commission I gave you; but, thinking that you could attend to it better on account of your tremendous activity, I entrusted it to you, rather as a proof of regard than as a humiliation. You are aware that I do not know how to lie and you also know that my soul is high enough not to degrade itself with pretenses. Consequently, you must believe me.
Antes de ayer (sin saber nada, nada de tal sentimiento) dije al General Santa Cruz que nos quedaríamos aquí para dirigir esa misma retaguardia, cuya conducción honra á usted, y que usted iría adelante con el Ejército hasta las inmediaciones del Cuzco ó Arequipa, según la dirección de los enemigos. Y en todo esto, yo no veía ni veo más que el servicio, porque la gloria, el honor, el talento, la delicadeza, todo se reune en el sólo punto del triunfo de Colombia, de su Ejército y la libertad de América.
Day before yesterday, (knowing nothing whatever of your feelings,) I told Santa Cruz that he and I would remain here to take charge of that same rearguard whose leadership dishonors you, and that you should go ahead with the Army to the vicinity of Cuzco or Arequipa, depending upon the position of the enemy. And in all this I was not considering and do not consider anything but service; for glory, honor, talent and dignity, all are concentrated on a single aim the victory of Colombia's army and the freedom of America.
Yo no tenía tan mala opinión de usted que pudiera persuadirme de que se ofendiese de recorrer la jurisdicción del Ejército y de hacer lo que era útil.
I did not have such a poor opinion of you as to believe that you would be offended at occupying different offices in the army and at doing anything useful.
Si usted quiere saber si la presencia de usted por retaguardia era necesaria, eche usted la vista sobre nuestro tesoro, nuestro parque, nuestras posiciones, nuestros hospitales y la columna del Zulia; todo desvaratado y perdido en un país enemigo, en incapacidad de existir y de moverse. Y ¿cuál es la vanguardia que yo he traído?
If you wish to know if your presence in the rearguard was useful, examine our treasury, our ammunition, our supplies, our hospitals and the column of Zulia; all destroyed and almost lost in an enemy country, unable to act or to move. And what about the vanguard?
El Coronel Carreño la ha conducido. El General Santa Cruz me ha precedido de seis días. Los enemigos no nos podían esperar, ni nos esperan en un mes.
Colonel Carreño has led it. General Santa Cruz has advanced six days before me. The enemy could not face us and they are not going to face us for a month.
The Army needed and still needs all that you are going to get, and more besides. If to save the Army of Colombia is dishonorable, I do not understand words or ideas.
Concluyo, mi querido General, por decir á usted que el dolor de usted debe convertirse en arrepentimiento por el mal que usted mismo se ha hecho en haberse dado por ofendido de lo que no debiera. Esas delicadezas, esas hablillas de gentes comunes, son indignas de usted. La gloria está en ser grande y en ser útil. Yo jamás he reparado en miserias, y he creído siempre que lo que no es digno de mí, tampoco lo es de usted.
I shall end, my dear General, by telling you that your sorrow should be changed to repentance for the damage that you have done yourself in considering yourself offended by me. This sensitiveness, this gossip of the common people, is unworthy of you. Glory consists in being great and being useful. I have never paid attention to small things and I have always thought that what was not unworthy of me was not unworthy of you.
Diré á usted, por último, que estoy tan cierto de la elección que usted mismo hará entre venirse á su destino ó irse á Colombia, que no vacilo en dejar á usted la libertad de elejir. Si usted se va, no corresponde usted á la idea que yo tengo formada de su corazón.
Finally, I want to tell you that I am so posi- tive of the selection that you yourself are going to make between your going on with your pres- ent position and your returning to Colombia, that I do not hesitate to allow you freedom of choice. If you go away you will not agree with the opinion which I have of your heart.
Si usted quiere venir á ponerse á la cabeza del Ejército, yo me iré atrás, y usted marchará adelante para que todo el mundo vea que el destino que he dado á usted, no lo desprecio para mí. Esta es mi respuesta.
If you wish to come to place yourself at the head of the army, I shall go to the rear, and you will march forward so that all the world will see that I myself do not despise the po- sition I gave to you. This is my answer.
Great quote from an amazing General comparable to Napoleon in strategic and tactical brilliance.
Hi @kerrislravenhill, this writing is very popular in Venezuelan schools: "Glory consists in being great and being useful".