100-peseta note from 1886: what it is and what to do if you have one

If you have a banknote in front of you that reads EL BANCO DE ESPAÑA, 100 PESETAS, and the date October 1, 1886, this is what you have: the banknote cataloged as Pick-36.

It is part of the issue of October 1, 1886, entirely dedicated to Francisco de Goya: five banknotes, from 25 to 1000 pesetas, featuring the painter on the obverse.

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 here: I explain why below.

Francisco de Goya: who is the face on this banknote

Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (Fuendetodos, Zaragoza, 1746 - Bordeaux, 1828), court painter to Charles IV and one of the great masters of Spanish painting. He also had a direct relationship with the issuing bank: he portrayed the directors of the Banco Nacional de San Carlos, the predecessor of the Bank of Spain, and those paintings remain in the Bank's collection today.

On the obverse, to the left, there is an allegorical figure writing on a tablet held by a child, and a rooster, and on the right, Goya's bust facing forward, with his name printed below. The reverse, in two shades of blue, only shows the value between geometric motifs.

Banknote fact sheet

Face value	100 pesetas
Banknote date	October 1, 1886
Pick Catalog	P-36
Mintage	1,492,000 copies
Dimensions	142 × 84 mm
Put into circulation	May 1889
Watermark	“B de E”, head in profile, and “100”
Signatures	Salvador Albacete, Julián Llorente, and Fernando Pérez Casariego
Obverse	Allegorical figure writing on a tablet held by a child, and a rooster, and a bust of Goya facing forward
Reverse	Value between geometric motifs, in blue

How to know if yours is original

It is convenient to know this first, because many more reproductions than originals of Spanish banknotes from this era are in circulation: collector's prints from the seventies and eighties, catalog facsimiles, and press reprints.

It is a banknote engraved in intaglio (calcography), a technique that leaves specific marks that a modern reproduction does not have:

• Relief to the touch. Run your fingertip over the design, the figures, and the title letters: on an original, you can feel the raised ink. A facsimile printed in offset is completely flat.
• Engraved line, not halftone. With a ten-power magnifying glass, the original engraving resolves into 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, the watermark should appear formed within the paper, not printed on top.
• Banknote paper, not photocopier paper. The original is a resistant paper with body that makes a sound when shaken. Modern coated paper is smooth and cold.

Specific checks for this banknote

• Measure it. This banknote measures 142 × 84 mm. Photographic copies almost always lose two or three millimeters, so a ruler resolves many doubts in ten seconds.
• Check the exact motif. On the obverse — an allegorical figure writing on a tablet held by a child, and a rooster, and the bust of Goya. On the reverse — the value between geometric motifs, in blue.
• Look at the watermark. When held up to the light, you should see the initials "B de E" at the top, a profile head in the central window, and "100" at the bottom.
• Do not confuse it with the 1889 one. The 100 peseta banknote of 1889 has the same obverse, but the reverse features a woman and a child with an emblem, a palette, and an anvil. Here the reverse only shows the value.
• Keep the mintage in mind. 1,492,000 copies were printed, but that was more than 130 years ago and the vast majority were withdrawn and destroyed.

I will confirm it for free. If it turns out to be a reproduction, I will tell you the same: I gain nothing by making you believe otherwise.

Original or facsimile? I'll tell you today, no strings attached
WhatsApp +34 644 54 98 79
info@iberoamericanabanknotes.com

What makes it worth more or less

Condition is king. One hundred pesetas was a lot of money in 1889, and those that have reached today are usually folded and worn; a clean one without repairs is a different matter. Repairs significantly lower its value.

I do not publish price ranges, and I explain why: the value depends entirely on the specific piece, and that does not fit into a table. A generic internet figure only serves to lead 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, 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 the shipping, and I transfer the funds the same day I receive and verify the piece; if it does not match the photos, I will return it and I will pay for the return shipping.

I am Fran, from Iberoamericana Banknotes, a PMG authorized 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.

You don't need to live nearby: I buy throughout Spain using this same system. And if you are from Asturias, I can come to your home without charging for the visit, or we can see each other at my shop in Gijón, at 77 Calle Cabrales, by appointment.

Frequently asked questions

Who is on the 100 pesetas banknote of 1886?
Francisco de Goya. The obverse shows his bust facing forward next to an allegorical figure writing on a tablet held by a child, and a rooster; the reverse only shows the value.

How many were printed?
1,492,000 copies were printed, but that was over 130 years ago and the vast majority were withdrawn and destroyed.

How do I know if mine is original or a reproduction?
The quickest way: look at the design with a magnifying glass (continuous engraved line on an original, grid of dots on a copy) and run your finger over the letters looking for relief. If you have any doubts, send me photos and I will tell you for free, even if it turns out to be a facsimile.

How much is the 100 pesetas banknote of 1886 worth?
It depends entirely on the specific piece: condition, margins, and any repairs change the price drastically. I do not give blind figures because it 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, provided it is original and has not been restored. In banknotes of this era, honest circulation is not a problem; what really penalizes is a repair.

How do I distinguish it from the 1889 one?
They have the same obverse. On the reverse, the 1886 one only has the value in blue, and the 1889 one features a woman and a child with an emblem, a palette, and an anvil.

The other banknotes of this issue

• 25 pesetas banknote of 1886 — Goya
• 50 pesetas banknote of 1886 — Goya
• 500 pesetas banknote of 1886 — Goya
• 1000 pesetas banknote of 1886 — Goya

Other 100 pesetas banknotes from the Bank of Spain

If you still aren't sure which one is yours, compare it with these: they are all 100 pesetas but from different issues.

• 100 pesetas banknote of 1874 — Juan de Herrera
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1875 — Athena
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1876 — Lope de Vega
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1878 — Garcilaso de la Vega
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1880 — Quevedo
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1884 (January issue) — Mendizábal
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1884 (July issue) — Alejandro Mon
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1889 — Goya (second issue)
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1893 — Jovellanos
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1898 — Jovellanos
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1900 — Quevedo
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1903 — "the stoker"
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1906 — allegories with the lyre
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1907 — Seville Cathedral
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1925 — Philip II
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1928 — Cervantes
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1936 — Burgos Cathedral
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1937 — General Castaños (the one that never circulated)
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1938 — The Lady of Elche
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1946 — Goya

General guide: selling old Bank of Spain banknotes. If you have more pesetas stored at home, check which peseta banknotes and coins have value.

Send me a photo of the obverse and one of the reverse and I'll tell you what you have today.
WhatsApp +34 644 54 98 79