100-peseta banknote from 1900: 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 May 1, 1900, this is what you have: the banknote cataloged as Pick-51.
It is part of the 1899-1900 issue, the series that the Bank of Spain dedicated to Francisco de Quevedo: the 25 and 50 peseta banknotes are dated 1899 and the 100 peseta note is dated May 1, 1900. It was the first issue after the war of 1898, and one of the most forged of its time.
Here you will find who or what appears on it, how to distinguish it from similar ones, how to check if yours is original, and what to do if you want to sell it. You won't find prices: I explain why below.
Francisco de Quevedo: who is the face on this banknote
Francisco de Quevedo y Villegas (Madrid, 1580 - Villanueva de los Infantes, 1645), the great satirist of the Golden Age, author of El Buscón and some of the best-known sonnets in the language. The portrait on the banknote is derived from the one painted by Velázquez, now lost and known only through copies by his followers.
On the obverse, he is accompanied by the head of Athena with a helmet and the crowned coat of arms of Spain with winged lions. On the reverse, printed in an ochre tone, Athena returns with a branch and a laurel wreath, surrounded by cherubs with symbols of the harvest, musical instruments, and a cornucopia full of fruits. The bust was engraved by Enrique Vaquer and the reverse by Bartolomé Maura.
Banknote fact sheet
| Face value | 100 pesetas |
|---|---|
| Banknote date | May 1, 1900 |
| Pick catalog | P-51 |
| Printer | Bank of Spain workshop, Madrid |
| Engravers | Enrique Vaquer (obverse) and Bartolomé Maura (reverse) |
| Mintage | 3,500,000 copies, in seven series (A to G) |
| Dimensions | 132 × 72 mm |
| Put into circulation | February 1901 |
| Signatures | Juan de la Concha Castañeda, José Gurumeta, and Antonio Góngora |
| Obverse | Bust of Francisco de Quevedo, head of Athena with a helmet and the crowned coat of arms of Spain with winged lions |
| Reverse | Athena with a branch and laurel wreath, cherubs with harvest symbols, musical instruments, and a cornucopia, in an ochre tone |
How to tell if yours is original
It is worth knowing this first and foremost, 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 Bank of Spain workshop in Madrid, using intaglio technique on quality paper. That leaves specific marks that a modern reproduction does not have:
- Raised ink. Run your fingertip over the design, the figures, and the letters of the title: on an original, you can feel the raised texture of the ink. A facsimile printed via offset is completely flat.
- Engraved line, not screening. With a ten-times magnification loupe, 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 durable, substantive paper that makes a sound when shaken. Modern coated paper is smooth and cold.
Specific checks for this banknote
- Measure it. This banknote measures 132 × 72 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 — bust of Quevedo, the head of Athena with a helmet, and the Spanish coat of arms with winged lions. On the reverse — Athena with a branch and laurel among cherubs and a cornucopia, in an ochre tone.
- Beware of period fakes. This banknote was heavily forged in its time: so much so that the Bank withdrew it from circulation around 1904. It is estimated that about 13% of the surviving copies are period forgeries, especially from the first series (A to D). A period fake is also of interest to the collector, but its value is different, so it is worth knowing.
- Don't confuse it with the 1880 one. The 100 peseta banknote of 1880 also features Quevedo, but it is a different design and from a different issue. Check the date: this one says May 1, 1900.
- Keep the mintage in mind. 3,500,000 copies were printed in seven series, but the banknote was withdrawn very soon due to forgeries and most were destroyed.
I will confirm it for you for free. If it turns out to be a reproduction, I will tell you just the same: 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, condition is key, followed closely by authenticity: due to the number of period fakes that existed, the first thing is to know if yours is one of the good ones. The series and any repairs also count: a washed, ironed, or taped specimen loses a lot of value even if it "looks better."
I do not publish price ranges, and here is 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 value 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 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 money the same day I receive and verify the item; if it does not match the photos, I return it to you at my own 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 grading by PMG or consignment for you.
I buy throughout Spain, wherever you live, and the process is always the same. If you are nearby, in any municipality in Asturias, I will go to your house to see it at no cost, and you can also bring it to my shop in Gijón, at Calle Cabrales 77, by appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Who is on the 100 peseta banknote of 1900?
Francisco de Quevedo. On the obverse, his bust appears next to the head of Athena with a helmet and the coat of arms of Spain; on the reverse, Athena between cherubs.
How many were printed?
3,500,000 copies were printed in seven series, but the note was withdrawn very soon due to forgeries and most were destroyed.
How do I know if mine is original or a reproduction?
The fastest way: look at the design with a loupe (continuous engraved line on an original, dot pattern 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 peseta banknote of 1900 worth?
It depends entirely on the specimen: the condition, the margins, and any repair 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, provided it is original and has not been restored. For banknotes of this period, honest circulation is not a problem; what really penalizes the value is repair work.
Why are there so many fakes of this banknote?
Because it was heavily forged in its time, to the point that the Bank of Spain withdrew it around 1904. About 13% of the survivors are period forgeries, especially from series A to D. With good photos, I can tell you which one yours is.
The other banknotes in this issue
Other 100 peseta banknotes of the Bank of Spain
If you are not quite sure which one is yours, compare it with these: they are all 100 pesetas but from different issues.
- 100 peseta banknote of 1874 — Juan de Herrera
- 100 peseta banknote of 1875 — Athena
- 100 peseta banknote of 1876 — Lope de Vega
- 100 peseta banknote of 1878 — Garcilaso de la Vega
- 100 peseta banknote of 1880 — Quevedo
- 100 peseta banknote of 1884 (January issue) — Mendizábal
- 100 peseta banknote of 1884 (July issue) — Alejandro Mon
- 100 peseta banknote of 1886 — Goya
- 100 peseta banknote of 1889 — Goya (second issue)
- 100 peseta banknote of 1893 — Jovellanos
- 100 peseta banknote of 1898 — Jovellanos
- 100 peseta banknote of 1903 — "the fireman"
- 100 peseta banknote of 1906 — the allegories with the lyre
- 100 peseta banknote of 1907 — the Cathedral of Seville
- 100 peseta banknote of 1925 — Philip II
- 100 peseta banknote of 1928 — Cervantes
- 100 peseta banknote of 1936 — the cathedral of Burgos
- 100 peseta banknote of 1937 — General Castaños (the one that never circulated)
- 100 peseta banknote of 1938 — the Lady of Elche
- 100 peseta banknote of 1946 — Goya
General guide: selling old 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 another of the reverse and I will tell you today what you have.
WhatsApp +34 644 54 98 79