1874 100-peseta banknote: what it is and what to do if you have one
If you have before you a banknote that reads EL BANCO DE ESPAÑA, 100 PESETAS and the date July 1, 1874, this is what you have: the banknote cataloged as Pick-3 and Edifil 261.
It is part of the July 1, 1874 issue: the first issue following the decree of March 19, 1874, which granted the Banco de España the monopoly on issuance.
Here you will find who or what appears on it, how to distinguish it from those that look like it, how to check if yours is original, and what to do if you want to sell it. You won't find prices: I will explain why below.
Juan de Herrera: who is the face on this banknote
Juan de Herrera (Roiz, Cantabria, circa 1530 - Madrid, 1597) was the architect for Philip II and the man who finished the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial after the death of Juan Bautista de Toledo. His name gave rise to an entire style, the Herrerian: austere geometry, strict symmetry, and no superfluous ornamentation.
That is why the banknote does not limit itself to showing his face: next to the portrait appears an aerial view of El Escorial, which is his work and his argument. For a State that in 1874 had just granted the monopoly of issuance to a single bank, the metaphor was convenient: order, unique plan, and nothing superfluous.
Banknote fact sheet
| Face value | 100 pesetas |
|---|---|
| Banknote date | July 1, 1874 |
| Pick catalog | P-3 |
| Edifil catalog | 261 |
| Printer | Banco de España workshop, Madrid |
| Print run | 769,500 copies |
| Dimensions | 170 × 78 mm |
| Put into circulation | — |
| Obverse | Portrait of Juan de Herrera next to an aerial view of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial |
| Reverse | Green print with geometric designs and the inscription "SERIE DE CIEN PESETAS" |
| Signatures | Manuel Cantero de San Vicente (governor), Teodoro Rubio Castellanos (comptroller), and Manuel Díaz Moreno de Vivar (cashier) |
How to know if yours is original
It is worth knowing this first of all, because far more reproductions than originals of Spanish banknotes from this period are in circulation: collector's prints from the seventies and eighties, catalog facsimiles, and press reprints.
This banknote was engraved and printed in the Banco de España workshop in Madrid, using an intaglio technique on linen paper. This leaves specific marks that a modern reproduction does not have:
- Relief to the touch. Run your fingertip over the portrait, the numbers, and the letters of the title: on an original, you can feel the raised ink. An offset-printed facsimile is completely flat.
- Engraved line, not a pattern. With a ten-power magnifying glass, the original portrait is resolved in fine, continuous lines. If you see a grid of dots, it is a modern print.
- Watermark in the pulp. When held up to the light, it should appear formed within the paper, not printed on top.
- Cotton linen paper, which is rough and makes a sound when shaken. Modern coated paper is smooth and cold.
Specific checks for this banknote
- Measure it. This banknote measures 170 × 78 mm. Photographic copies almost always lose two or three millimeters, so a ruler settles many doubts in ten seconds.
- Check the exact motif. On the obverse — portrait of Juan de Herrera next to an aerial view of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. On the reverse — green print with geometric designs and the inscription "SERIE DE CIEN PESETAS".
- Look at the three signatures. On this banknote, they correspond to Manuel Cantero de San Vicente (governor), Teodoro Rubio Castellanos (comptroller), and Manuel Díaz Moreno de Vivar (cashier). A signature that does not match points to another issue or a reproduction.
- Keep the print run in mind. 769,500 copies were printed, but that was over 140 years ago and the vast majority were withdrawn and destroyed.
I will confirm it for you for free. If it turns out to be a reproduction, I will tell you regardless: I gain nothing by making you believe otherwise.
Original or facsimile? I will tell you today, no obligation
WhatsApp +34 644 54 98 79
info@iberoamericanabanknotes.com
What makes it worth more or less
With this banknote, as with the entire nineteenth-century series, condition is what dictates value, followed closely by repairs: a specimen that has been washed, ironed, has taped tears, or has trimmed margins loses significant value, even if it "looks better."
I do not publish price ranges, and I will explain why: the value depends entirely on the specific specimen, and that does not fit into a table. A generic figure from the internet only leads to disappointment. Send me photos and I will appraise your banknote, not "one like yours."
And before showing it to anyone: do not iron it, do not wash it, do not tape anything with adhesive tape, and do not put it in soft PVC. All four things are irreversible. I explain this in detail in the guide to selling old banknotes.
How I buy it from you
You send me photos via WhatsApp—obverse, reverse, a detail of the numbering, and one held up to the light—and I will reply in less than 24 hours telling you what you have and, if I am interested, with a firm offer. I pay for shipping, and I transfer the funds on the same day that I receive and verify the item; if it does not match the photos, I will return it and pay for the return shipping myself.
I am Fran, from Iberoamericana Banknotes, an authorized PMG dealer. I can also appraise it just for insurance or inheritance purposes, without selling anything, and I can manage the PMG grading or consignment for you.
It doesn't matter where you live: I buy throughout Spain and the process is the same. If you are in Asturias, I can also go to see it at your home at no cost, or we can look at it calmly in my store in Gijón, on Calle Cabrales 77, by appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Who is on the 1874 100 pesetas banknote?
Juan de Herrera. On the obverse — portrait of Juan de Herrera next to an aerial view of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
How many were printed?
The print run was 769,500 copies. Be careful with a common misunderstanding: a large print run in the 19th century does not mean that many remain today. These banknotes were systematically withdrawn and destroyed, and what counts is how many survive, not how many were made.
How do I know if mine is original or a reproduction?
The quickest way: look at the portrait with a magnifying glass (continuous engraved line in an original, grid of dots in a copy) and run your finger over the letters looking for relief. If you have doubts, send me photos and I will tell you for free, even if it turns out to be a facsimile.
How much is the 1874 100 pesetas banknote worth?
It depends entirely on the specimen: condition, margins, and any repairs change the price drastically. I do not give figures blindly because they would not be honest. With photos, I can tell you what yours is worth in less than 24 hours.
Do you buy it even if it is circulated or has defects?
Yes, as long as it is original and not restored. For banknotes from this period, honest circulation is not a problem; what really penalizes it is repair.
The other banknotes in this issue
- 1874 25 pesetas banknote — children carrying baskets
- 1874 50 pesetas banknote — Rafael Esteve
- 1874 500 pesetas banknote — Goya
- 1874 1000 pesetas banknote — Alonso Cano
Other 100 pesetas banknotes from the Banco de España
If you aren't sure which one you have, compare it with these: they are all 100 pesetas but from different issues.
- 1875 100 pesetas banknote — Athena
- 1876 100 pesetas banknote — Lope de Vega
- 1878 100 pesetas banknote — Garcilaso de la Vega
- 1880 100 pesetas banknote — Quevedo
- 1884 100 pesetas banknote (January issue) — Mendizábal
- 1884 100 pesetas banknote (July issue) — Alejandro Mon
- 1886 100 pesetas banknote — Goya
- 1889 100 pesetas banknote — Goya (second issue)
- 1893 100 pesetas banknote — Jovellanos
- 1898 100 pesetas banknote — Jovellanos
- 1900 100 pesetas banknote — Quevedo
- 1903 100 pesetas banknote — "the fireman"
- 1906 100 pesetas banknote — allegories with the lyre
- 1907 100 pesetas banknote — Seville Cathedral
- 1925 100 pesetas banknote — Philip II
- 1928 100 pesetas banknote — Cervantes
General guide: selling old Banco de España banknotes. If you have more pesetas stored around the house, see which peseta banknotes and coins have value.
Send me a photo of the obverse and one of the reverse and I will tell you today what you have.
WhatsApp +34 644 54 98 79