Currency of Venezuela 1, 1862. Copper (Birmingham mint) dated 1858–1863: Silver 0·900 fine (Paris mint) dated 1858: The contract with the Paris Mint for coins with the bust of Gen. Páez, finalized November 7, 1862 was rescinded in June 1863, and coins already minted were melted down. Copper 1 and 2 céntesimos, and silver 1/2, 1, 2, 4, and 10 reales had been ordered. About 200 pieces of the 10-reales, 38 mm, 10·000 g, are thought to have survived. Peso fuerte (Venezolano de oro) = 10 Reales (Décimos) = 100 Centavos The monetary law of June 12, 1865 was based on the gold
Free silver standard which had been the hallmark of the Cleveland administration to the free-silver position epitomized by 1896 presidential nominee William Jennings Bryan in his Cross of Gold speech. Bryan's 1896 candidacy was supported by Populists and "silver Republicans" as well as by most Democrats. The issue was over what would back the US currency. The two options were: "gold" (wanted by the Goldbugs and William McKinley) and "silver" (wanted by the Silverites and Bryan). Unbacked "paper" (wanted by the Greenbacks) represented a third option. A fourth option, currency backed by "land value", was advocated by Senator Leland Stanford through several