1880 1000-peseta banknote: what it is and what to do if you have one
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If you have in front of you a banknote that reads EL BANCO DE ESPAÑA, 1000 PESETAS, and the date April 1, 1880, this is what you have: the banknote cataloged as Pick-23 and Edifil 281.
It is part of the April 1, 1880 issue: four denominations engraved in Madrid, featuring painters and writers 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: I will explain why further down.
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo: who is the face of this banknote
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (Seville, 1617 - 1682) was, for two centuries, the most highly valued Spanish painter in Europe, surpassing even Velázquez. His "Immaculate Conceptions" and street children were copied and engraved ad nauseam.
This banknote also has an exceptional reverse: between two male heads wearing helmets appears Velázquez's "The Spinners." In other words, the 1880 one-thousand-peseta note features a painter on the obverse and another painter's painting on the reverse—a small anthology of the Prado on a 182 by 117-millimeter piece of paper.
Banknote fact sheet
| Face value | 1000 pesetas |
|---|---|
| Date of issue | April 1, 1880 |
| Pick Catalog | P-23 |
| Edifil Catalog | 281 |
| Printer | Banco de España workshop, Madrid |
| Print run | 100,000 copies |
| Dimensions | 182 × 117 mm |
| Put into circulation | — |
| Obverse | Portrait of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, printed in black and gray on a green background |
| Reverse | Brown print with helmeted male heads flanking Velázquez's "The Spinners" |
| Signatures | Martín Belda y Mencía del Barrio, Teodoro Rubio Castellanos, and Fernando Pérez Casariego |
How to tell if yours is original
It is important to know this first, 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 Banco de España workshop in Madrid, using intaglio technique on cotton-fiber paper. This leaves specific marks that a modern reproduction does not have:
- Raised ink (tactile). Run your fingertip over the portrait, 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 10x magnifying glass, the original portrait is rendered in fine, continuous lines. If you see a grid of dots, it is a modern print.
- Watermark within the pulp. When held up to the light, it should appear formed within the paper, not printed on top of it.
- Cotton-fiber paper, which is rough and makes a crisp sound when shaken. Modern coated paper is smooth and cold to the touch.
Specific checks for this banknote
- Measure it. This banknote measures 182 × 117 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 — portrait of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, printed in black and gray on a green background. On the reverse — brown print with helmeted male heads flanking Velázquez's "The Spinners."
- Look at the three signatures. On this banknote, they correspond to Martín Belda y Mencía del Barrio, Teodoro Rubio Castellanos, and Fernando Pérez Casariego. A signature that does not match points to another issue or a reproduction.
- Keep the print run in mind. 100,000 copies were printed, but that was over 140 years ago, and the vast majority were withdrawn and destroyed.
I will confirm it for you for free. If it turns out to be a reproduction, I will tell you anyway; 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
For this banknote, as with the entire nineteenth-century series, condition is king, followed closely by repairs: a specimen that has been washed, ironed, had tears glued, or had its margins trimmed loses a great deal 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 cannot fit into a table. A generic figure from the internet 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 tape, and do not put it in soft PVC. All four actions are irreversible. I explain this in detail in the guide to selling old banknotes.
How I buy them from you
You send me photos via WhatsApp—obverse, reverse, a close-up of the serial number, 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, providing 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 own expense.
I am Fran, from Iberoamericana Banknotes, an authorized PMG dealer. I can also appraise it for insurance or inheritance purposes, without any sale involved, and I can handle the grading process through PMG or consignment.
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 for a free visit, or we can meet at my store in Gijón, at 77 Calle Cabrales, by appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Who is featured on the 1000 peseta note of 1880?
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. On the obverse — portrait of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, printed in black and gray on a green background.
How many were printed?
The print run was 100,000 copies. Be careful with a common misunderstanding: a high print run in the 19th century does not mean many remain today. These banknotes were systematically withdrawn and destroyed, and what counts is how many survive, not how many were made.
How do I know if mine is original or a reproduction?
The fastest way: look at the portrait with a magnifying glass (a continuous engraved line in an original, a grid of dots in a copy) and run your finger over the letters checking for raised ink. If you have doubts, send me photos, and I'll tell you for free—even if it turns out to be a facsimile.
How much is the 1000 peseta note of 1880 worth?
It depends entirely on the specimen: condition, margins, and any repairs change the price drastically. I do not provide 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 has not been restored. For banknotes of this era, honest circulation is not a problem; what truly penalizes the value is repairs.
The other banknotes in this issue
- 50 peseta note of 1880 — Campomanes
- 100 peseta note of 1880 — Quevedo
- 500 peseta note of 1880 — Claudio Coello
Other 1000 peseta banknotes from the Banco de España
If you aren't sure which one you have, compare it with these: they are all 1000 pesetas but from different issues.
- 1000 peseta note of 1874 — Alonso Cano
- 1000 peseta note of 1875 — allegorical medallions
- 1000 peseta note of 1876 — Lope de Vega
- 1000 peseta note of 1878 — Cervantes
- 1000 peseta note of 1884 (January issue) — Mendizábal
- 1000 peseta note of 1884 (July issue) — Marquis of Ensenada
- 1000 peseta note of 1886 — Goya
- 1000 peseta note of 1895 — Cabarrús
- 1000 peseta note of 1907 (May issue) — "The Angel"
- 1000 peseta note of 1907 (July issue) — The Royal Palace
- 1000 peseta note of 1925 — Charles I
- 1000 peseta note of 1928 — Ferdinand III the Saint
General guide: selling old Banco de España 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'll tell you today what you have.
WhatsApp +34 644 54 98 79