1889 100-peseta banknote: what it is and what to do if you have one
If you have in front of you a banknote that reads EL BANCO DE ESPAÑA, 100 PESETAS and the date June 1, 1889, this is what you have: the banknote cataloged as Pick-41.
It is part of the June 1, 1889 issue, the second dedicated to Goya. It reused the obverse of the 1886 banknotes and premiered new reverses engraved by Bartolomé Maura, the Bank's chief engraver. That is why those from 1886 and 1889 are so often confused.
Here you will find who or what appears on it, how to distinguish it from those that resemble 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'll explain why further down.
Francisco de Goya: who is the face on this banknote
Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (Fuendetodos, Zaragoza, 1746 - Bordeaux, 1828), chamber painter to Charles IV and one of the great masters of Spanish painting. He also had a direct relationship with the issuing bank: he painted 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.
The obverse is the same as that of the 1886 banknote: an allegorical figure writing on a tablet held by a child, and a rooster and the bust of Goya facing forward. The reverse, new and engraved by Bartolomé Maura, shows a woman and a child with a central emblem surrounded by wheat stalks, a palette, brushes, a hammer, fruit, and an anvil: art, agriculture, and industry.
Banknote fact sheet
| Face value | 100 pesetas |
|---|---|
| Date of issue | June 1, 1889 |
| Pick catalog | P-41 |
| Printer | Bank of Spain workshop, Madrid |
| Reverse engraver | Bartolomé Maura |
| Print run | 1,416,000 copies |
| Dimensions | 142 × 84 mm |
| Put into circulation | February 1893 |
| Watermark | Profile head |
| Signatures | Salvador Albacete, Julián Llorente and Fernando Pérez Casariego |
| Obverse | Allegorical figure writing on a tablet held by a child, and a rooster, and bust of Goya facing forward |
| Reverse | Woman and child with central emblem, wheat stalks, palette, brushes, hammer, fruit, and anvil |
How to tell if yours is original
It is worth knowing this first of all, because there are far more reproductions than originals of Spanish banknotes from this period in circulation: collector's prints from the seventies and eighties, catalog facsimiles, and press reprints.
This banknote was engraved and printed in the Bank of Spain workshop in Madrid, using calcographic technique on quality paper. This leaves specific marks that a modern reproduction does not have:
- Relief to the touch. Run your fingertip over the design, the figures, 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 halftone. With a ten-power magnifying glass, the original engraving resolves into fine, continuous lines. If you see a dot grid, it is a modern print.
- Watermark in the pulp. Held up to the light, the watermark should appear formed within the paper, not printed on top.
- Banknote paper, not photocopy. The original is a durable, substantive paper that makes a sound when flicked. 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 settles 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 — a woman and child with an emblem, a palette, and an anvil.
- Do not confuse it with the 1886 issue. The obverse is identical. If the reverse bears the woman and child with the emblem, it is this 1889 version; if it only shows the value in blue, it is the 1886 version.
- Keep the print run in mind. 1,416,000 copies were printed, but that was over 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 let you know today, no obligation
WhatsApp +34 644 54 98 79
info@iberoamericanabanknotes.com
What makes it worth more or less
Condition is key. This is a high-value banknote for its time, and the ones that appear are usually folded and worn. A clean one without repairs is very different from a well-used one.
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 serves to cause disappointment. Send me photos and I will evaluate your banknote, not "one like yours".
And before showing it to anyone: do not iron it, do not wash it, do not stick anything with tape, and do not put it in soft PVC. All four things are irreversible. I explain this in detail in the guide to selling antique banknotes.
How I buy them 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 the same day I receive and verify the piece; if it does not match the photos, I will return it to you at my expense.
I am Fran, from Iberoamericana Banknotes, an authorized PMG dealer. I can also value 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 house without charging for the visit, or we can look at it in my store in Gijón, at Calle Cabrales 77, by appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Who is on the 100 pesetas banknote of 1889?
Francisco de Goya, on the obverse, next to an allegorical figure writing on a tablet held by a child, and a rooster. The reverse features a woman and child with an emblem, a palette, and an anvil.
How many were printed?
1,416,000 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 for an original, dot grid for a copy) and run your finger over the letters looking for relief. If you have doubts, send me photos and I'll tell you for free, even if it turns out to be a facsimile.
What is the 100 pesetas banknote of 1889 worth?
It depends entirely on the specimen: the condition, margins, and any repairs move the price drastically. I do not give blind figures 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 of this period, honest circulation is not a problem; what truly penalizes value is repair.
How do I distinguish it from the 1886 one?
The obverse is the same. The 1889 version bears a woman and a child with an emblem on the reverse; the 1886 version only shows the value in blue between geometric motifs.
The other banknotes of this issue
Other 100 pesetas banknotes from the Bank of Spain
If you aren't sure which one you have, 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 1886 — Goya
- 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 — the 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 — Lady of Elche
- 100 pesetas banknote of 1946 — Goya
General guide: selling antique Bank of Spain banknotes. And if more pesetas have appeared in the same drawer, I'll tell you which peseta banknotes and coins have value.
Send me a photo of the obverse and one of the reverse and I'll tell you today what you have.
WhatsApp +34 644 54 98 79