1906 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 30, 1906, this is what you have: the banknote cataloged as Pick-59.

It is part of the first series of allegories (1906-1907): the Banco de España stopped using faces of historical figures and returned to commissioning its banknotes from the London firm Bradbury Wilkinson, with allegorical figures on the obverse and the coat of arms of Spain on the reverse.

Here you have 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 are not going to find prices: I will explain why below.

What this banknote represents

It does not bear any historical character. On the obverse, allegorical women sitting with a lyre appear, and on the reverse, the coat of arms of Spain. It was the first of the first series of allegories and the one that marked the change: from 1906 Spanish banknotes were once again printed in England, at the Bradbury Wilkinson house.

It was printed in huge quantities and was in use for decades, so it is not rare to find it in inheritances and drawers.

Banknote fact sheet

Face value	100 pesetas
Date of issue	June 30, 1906
Pick catalog	P-59
Printer	Bradbury Wilkinson & Co., London
Series	no series and series A to D
Put into circulation	November 1906
Signatures	the Count of Sagasta, Emilio Rodero and Luis Clemente Fabiani
Obverse	Allegorical women sitting with a lyre
Reverse	Coat of arms of Spain

How to know if yours is original

It is worth knowing this above all else, because far 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.

This banknote was printed in London by the Bradbury Wilkinson firm, one of the world's great banknote printers, using the intaglio (engraving) technique. This leaves specific marks that a modern reproduction does not have:

• Relief to the touch. Run your fingertip over the drawing, the figures, and the letters of the title: in an original, you can feel the raised ink. An offset-printed facsimile is completely flat.
• Engraved line, not halftone. With a ten-times magnifying glass, the original engraving is resolved 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 you shake it. Modern coated paper is smooth and cold.

Specific checks for this banknote

• Check the exact motif. On the obverse — allegorical women sitting with a lyre. On the reverse — the coat of arms of Spain.
• Look at the upper right corner of the obverse. Some specimens bear an embossed seal (in relief, without ink): it is the revalidation carried out by the Second Republic in 1931 so that they would continue to circulate. It is noticeable when running your finger over it and is sometimes visible to the naked eye. It is not a defect: with and without a seal, these are two different catalog variants (the "a" and "b" of the Pick).
• Keep the print run in mind. Several tens of millions of copies were printed, because it was a daily-use banknote. That is why today what counts most is the condition of each one.

I will confirm it for you 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 will tell you today, no strings attached
WhatsApp +34 644 54 98 79
info@iberoamericanabanknotes.com

What makes it worth more or less

As it is a very high-run banknote, conservation is key: a heavily circulated one is worth little, and one that is clean and unrestored is worth quite a bit more. The variant (with or without an embossed seal) and the series also count.

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 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 the shipping, and I transfer the money the same day I receive and verify the piece; if it does not match the photos, I will return it, paying for the return shipping myself.

I am Fran, from Iberoamericana Banknotes, an authorized PMG dealer. I can also value it for you 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 this one. If you are nearby, in any council of Asturias, I will go to your house to see it at no cost, and you can also bring it to my store in Gijón, at Calle Cabrales 77, by appointment.

Frequently asked questions

What appears on the 1906 100 pesetas banknote?
It does not bear any historical character. On the obverse there are allegorical women sitting with a lyre and on the reverse, the coat of arms of Spain.

How do I know if mine is original or a reproduction?
The fastest way: look at the drawing with a magnifying glass (continuous engraved line in an original, dot pattern 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 1906 100 pesetas banknote worth?
It depends entirely on the specimen: conservation, margins, and any repairs move the price drastically. I do not give numbers blindly because they would not be honest. With photos, I will 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 is the repair.

What is the embossed seal that mine has?
It is the embossed seal with which the Second Republic revalidated these banknotes in 1931, in the upper right corner of the obverse. It is not a defect: it is a recognized catalog variant.

The other banknotes of this issue

• 25 pesetas 1906 banknote — the seated allegory
• 50 pesetas 1906 banknote — the allegory with the caduceus
• 500 pesetas 1907 banknote (January issue) — "the medallion"
• 1000 pesetas 1907 banknote (May issue) — "the angel"

Other 100 pesetas banknotes from the Banco de España

If you are not quite sure which one is yours, compare it with these: they are all 100 pesetas but from different issues.

• 100 pesetas 1874 banknote — Juan de Herrera
• 100 pesetas 1875 banknote — Athena
• 100 pesetas 1876 banknote — Lope de Vega
• 100 pesetas 1878 banknote — Garcilaso de la Vega
• 100 pesetas 1880 banknote — Quevedo
• 100 pesetas 1884 banknote (January issue) — Mendizábal
• 100 pesetas 1884 banknote (July issue) — Alejandro Mon
• 100 pesetas 1886 banknote — Goya
• 100 pesetas 1889 banknote — Goya (second issue)
• 100 pesetas 1893 banknote — Jovellanos
• 100 pesetas 1898 banknote — Jovellanos
• 100 pesetas 1900 banknote — Quevedo
• 100 pesetas 1903 banknote — "the stoker"
• 100 pesetas 1907 banknote — the Cathedral of Seville
• 100 pesetas 1925 banknote — Philip II
• 100 pesetas 1928 banknote — Cervantes
• 100 pesetas 1936 banknote — the cathedral of Burgos
• 100 pesetas 1937 banknote — General Castaños (the one that never circulated)
• 100 pesetas 1938 banknote — the Lady of Elche
• 100 pesetas 1946 banknote — Goya

General guide: selling old banknotes from the Banco de España. And if more pesetas have appeared in the same drawer, I will 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