Two Coins, Two Bolivias: From Republic to Plurinational State

Look closely at the change you get in Bolivia and you may find two 2-boliviano coins that look almost identical. Same twelve-sided shape, same coat of arms, same motto: "La unión es la fuerza" — unity is strength. But turn them over and read the edge. One says República de Bolivia. The other says Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia.

That small difference tells one of the most important stories of modern Bolivia. It is a story our guides share with travelers on almost every city tour in La Paz, so we decided to write it down.

The Republic of Bolivia (1825–2009)

Bolivia became independent from Spain in 1825 and took its name from Simón Bolívar, the leader of South America's independence wars. For almost 184 years the country was officially the República de Bolivia, and that is the name you see on the older coins, like the 1997 coin in our photo.

For most of that history, political and economic power stayed in the hands of a small, mostly urban and Spanish-speaking elite, even though a large part of the population was Indigenous — mainly Aymara, Quechua and Guaraní, among many other peoples.

2006–2009: A new president and a new constitution

In 2006, Evo Morales, an Aymara former coca growers' union leader, became president. He was widely described as the country's first Indigenous president, and his election was a historic moment for millions of Bolivians.

His government called a Constituent Assembly to write a new constitution. The process was long and deeply divisive, with strong opposition, especially in the eastern lowlands. In January 2009 the new constitution was put to a national referendum and approved with about 61% of the vote.

The new constitution defines Bolivia as a plurinational state: it recognizes the country's Indigenous nations, makes their languages official alongside Spanish, and adds the wiphala flag as a national symbol.

Why the name changed — and why it is still debated

Here is the part that surprises many visitors. The referendum approved the constitution, but the official change of the country's name to Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia was made by a government decree — Supreme Decree No. 48 of March 18, 2009 — not by a separate vote on the name itself.

Supporters say the new name simply reflects what the constitution established: a state built on many nations and cultures. Critics argue that Bolivians were never directly asked whether they wanted to stop being a republic, and that parts of the constitution itself still refer to the "República". Some politicians have even proposed bringing the old name back. The debate has never fully gone away.

Not long after the change, the Central Bank started issuing coins with the new name. The 2-boliviano coin with "Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia" has been minted since 2010 — and the older "República" coins are still in circulation today, which is why you can hold both in your hand.

The fight over re-election

The new constitution allowed a president to be re-elected only once in a row. What happened next is the other half of the story our guides tell:

• 2013: the Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal ruled that Morales's first term did not count because it began under the old constitution. He ran again and won a third term in 2014.
• 2016: the government held a referendum to allow him to run once more. On February 21 — a date Bolivians still call "21F" — voters said no, by about 51%.
• 2017: the Constitutional Tribunal set the result aside, ruling that running for re-election was a human right, which opened the door to indefinite re-election.
• 2019: Morales ran for a fourth term. The vote count was disputed, an audit by the Organization of American States reported serious irregularities, and weeks of protests followed. Morales resigned and left the country in November 2019.
• 2021: the Inter-American Court of Human Rights stated that indefinite re-election is not a human right.
• 2023: Bolivia's Constitutional Tribunal ruled that a president can serve a maximum of two terms, which barred Morales from running again.
• 2025: Bolivia held the first presidential runoff in its history, and Rodrigo Paz won the presidency.

For his supporters, Morales brought stability, economic growth and visibility to Indigenous Bolivians who had been excluded for centuries. For his critics — including many people you will meet in La Paz — the attempt to stay in power after losing the 21F referendum crossed a line. Most Bolivians agree on one thing: those years changed the country forever.

Two coins, two visions of Bolivia

That is why these two coins are worth more than their face value. One remembers the republic founded in 1825. The other represents the plurinational state created in 2009, with all its achievements and controversies. Many Bolivians still say "la República" in everyday conversation, while official documents say "Estado Plurinacional". Both are part of who Bolivia is today.

Travel tip: next time you pay for a coffee or a taxi in Bolivia, check your 2-boliviano coins. If you find one of each, keep them — they make one of the most meaningful (and cheapest) souvenirs you can take home.

Sources and further reading: Wikipedia: Constitution of Bolivia, Wikipedia: Bolivian boliviano.

Hear the full story in La Paz

History in Bolivia is not something you only read about — you see it in the streets, the markets, the murals and the protests of La Paz. On our La Paz City Encounter, a local guide takes you through the city the way residents live it, and shares stories like this one along the way. It is included in tours like Bolivia Explorer — 8 Days and Bolivia Elevates — 10 Days.

Planning your trip? See our Bolivia itineraries for 7, 10 and 14 days, or contact us and we will help you plan it.