1907 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 15, 1907, this is what you have: the banknote cataloged as Pick-64.

It is part of the July 15, 1907 issue, the second series of allegories printed in London by Bradbury Wilkinson. Each banknote features a Spanish monument on the reverse, and the curious thing is that the Bank kept it in reserve for years: several of these banknotes were not put into circulation until the twenties.

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 will explain why below.

What this banknote represents

The obverse shows a seated female allegory and a female portrait in a central oval. On the reverse, the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See of Seville.

Although it is dated 1907, it was not put into circulation until August 1926, like the 25 pesetas notes of the same issue.

Banknote fact sheet

Face value	100 pesetas
Banknote date	July 15, 1907
Pick catalog	P-64
Printer	Bradbury Wilkinson & Co., London
Print run	4,000,000 copies
Dimensions	128 × 90 mm
Put into circulation	August 1926
Signatures	José Sánchez Guerra, Emilio Rodero and Luis Clemente Fabiani
Obverse	Seated female allegory and female portrait in central oval
Reverse	Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See of Seville

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 era are in circulation: collector plates 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 technique. 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 ink's raised texture. An offset-printed facsimile is completely flat.
• Engraved line, not a dot screen. 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 durable, substantial paper that makes a sound when shaken. Modern coated paper is smooth and cold.

Specific checks for this banknote

• Measure it. This banknote measures 128 × 90 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 — a seated female allegory and a portrait in an oval. On the reverse — the Cathedral of Seville.
• Look at the upper right corner of the obverse. Some specimens have a dry stamp (in relief, without ink): this 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 the stamp and without the stamp are two different catalog variants (the "a" and "b" of the Pick).
• Keep the print run in mind. 4,000,000 copies were printed, quite a bit fewer than other 100 pesetas banknotes of the era.

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

Condition rules: those that appear clean, without heavy folds and without repairs are the ones that are truly of interest. The variant (with or without dry stamp) also counts.

I do not publish price ranges, and I will explain why: the value depends entirely on the specific specimen, and that does not fit in a table. A generic number from the internet only serves to cause 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 stick anything on it 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 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 will transfer the money the same day I receive and verify the piece; if it does not match the photos, I will return it to you and I will pay for the return postage.

I am Fran, from Iberoamericana Banknotes, a PMG authorized dealer. I can also appraise it just for insurance or inheritance, without selling anything, and I can manage the PMG grading or consignment for you.

I buy throughout Spain, wherever you live, and the process is always this one. If you are nearby, in any municipality in Asturias I will come to see it at your home at no cost, and you can also bring it to my Gijón shop, at 77 Calle Cabrales, by appointment.

Frequently asked questions

What appears on the 100 pesetas banknote of 1907?
On the obverse, a seated female allegory and a portrait in a central oval. On the reverse, the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See of Seville.

How many were printed?
4,000,000 copies were printed, significantly fewer than other 100 pesetas banknotes of the era.

How do I know if mine is original or a reproduction?
The fastest way: look at the design with a magnifying glass (continuous engraved line on an original, dot screen on 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 100 pesetas banknote of 1907 worth?
It depends entirely on the specimen: condition, margins, and any repairs move 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. On banknotes from this era, honest circulation is not a problem; what truly penalizes the value is repairs.

What is the relief stamp that mine has?
It is the dry stamp 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 from this issue

• 25 pesetas banknote of 1907 — the Alhambra
• 50 pesetas banknote of 1907 — Burgos
• 500 pesetas banknote of 1907 (July issue) — the Alcázar of Segovia
• 1000 pesetas banknote of 1907 (July issue) — the Royal Palace

Other 100 pesetas banknotes of the Bank of Spain

If you aren't sure which one yours is, 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 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 — the allegories with the lyre
• 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 old Bank of Spain banknotes. If you have more pesetas stored at home, see 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