The headquarters of the Banco Central de Venezuela on Avenida Urdaneta — a 16-storey 1960s tower — houses a surprisingly good numismatic museum. The collection traces the history of Venezuelan currency from pre-Columbian shell money and Spanish macuquina coins through the chaos of nineteenth-century paper money to the modern bolívar. A separate gallery of Bolívar's personal effects, including jewellery and silverware, occasionally rotates onto display.
The museum is free, well lit, and reliably open on weekdays. Bring ID — entry to the bank precinct requires a passport check. An hour is enough for most visitors.