A BOOK ABOUT DOMINICAN PAPER MONEY IS PUBLISHED BY BANCO POPULAR DOMINICANO

Banco Popular Dominicano presented, at the Salomé Ureña Hall of the auditorium of the Dominican Central Bank, the first volume of a series of books about Dominican paper money. The book is titled “El papel moneda dominicano (1782-1912)” and was written by Miguel Estrella and Isaac Rudman. 

Mr. Manuel A. Grullón, president of Banco Popular, noted that by publishing this book, the bank is carrying out activities that answer to its  “sense of commitment and social responsibility as a private company.  Our financial organization has given grants to a myriad of philanthropic, cultural, educational and social activities which mean a true support to the general knowledge and cultural tradition which are part of the strengthening of the country and its institutions”.

Mr. Grullón also said that the creation of this book follows the general goal of promoting educational and cultural development that has been a major concern for the bank since its foundation, more than four decades ago.  “This is an additional contribution to the spiritual growth and social development of the Dominican people”.

Mr. Frank Marino Hernández gave a presentation about the book’s remarkable quality and characterized it as “a historical innovation, a research never carried out before”.

This book also stands out in the general literature on the subject since it distances itself from the better-known essays on coins.  Its content is organized into eight sections.  The first three sections show a clear interrelation between the economic and historical development of the society, evident through the changes in the use of different models of bills.  The next four sections deal with the complexities of using several coexisting monetary systems during the second half of the nineteenth century of the Dominican Republic.  Finally, the eighth section presents the different bills that were planned but not printed from 1848 through 1912.

Isaac Rudman, co-author, and Nurys de Estrella, spouse of Miguel Estrella, were among the participants in the act at the Banco Central.  Also present were Octavio Amiama De Castro who wrote the prologue of the book, Félix Calvo, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, and important personalities interested in cultural and numismatic affairs.

About the authors:

Miguel Estrella has dedicated most of his career to numismatics.  He is a member of the directing board of the Dominican Numismatic Society since 1977 where he has acted as Secretary, Vice president and President.

Isaac Rudman dedicates his time to commercial activities and to the building of important collections in art and numismatics.  His collection of coins and bills of the Caribbean is among the best and most complete in the world.  He has served for many years as Numismatic Advisor to the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic.

This book is part of an ongoing collaboration for the two authors who also wrote together another volume: “Monedas de la República Dominicana” (Coins of the Dominican Republic, published in 1979) and documented a temporary coin exhibit at the Dominican Central Bank in 1985.

Santo Domingo, D.R.
November 14, 2004