1000 peseta banknote from 1907 (May issue, "the angel"): what it is and what to do if you have one
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If you are holding a banknote that reads EL BANCO DE ESPAÑA, 1000 PESETAS and is dated May 10, 1907, this is what you have: the banknote cataloged as Pick-61.
It is part of the first series of allegories (1906-1907): the Bank of Spain stopped featuring 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 will find who or what appears on it, how to distinguish it from similar-looking ones, how to verify if yours is original, and what to do if you want to sell it. You will not find prices here: I explain why below.
"The angel": what this banknote represents
What collectors call "the angel" is actually winged Mercury holding a globe, amidst branches and floral motifs. On the reverse, there is a female figure with a helmet representing Spain, seated on a throne with a sword, with a lion by her side and columns topped with the caduceus. It was engraved by the Mallorcan Enrique Vaquer.
The curious thing is the date: although it bears the 1907 date, the Bank kept it in reserve and did not put it into circulation until 1925, almost twenty years later.
Banknote fact sheet
| Face value | 1000 pesetas |
|---|---|
| Banknote date | May 10, 1907 |
| Pick catalog | P-61 |
| Printer | Bradbury Wilkinson & Co., London |
| Engraver | Enrique Vaquer |
| Print run | 500,000 copies |
| Put into circulation | January 1925 |
| Watermark | Head of King Charles I |
| Signatures | José Sánchez Guerra, Emilio Rodero and Luis Clemente Fabiani |
| Obverse | Winged Mercury with a globe, amidst branches and floral motifs |
| Reverse | Female figure with a helmet representing Spain, seated with a sword and a lion, between columns topped with the caduceus |
How to know if yours is original
It is worth knowing this first and foremost, because far more reproductions than originals of Spanish banknotes from this period circulate: collector's prints from the seventies and eighties, catalog facsimiles, and press reprints.
This banknote was printed in London by Bradbury Wilkinson, one of the world's great banknote printers, using intaglio (steel engraving) 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 raised ink. An offset-printed facsimile is completely flat.
- Engraved line, not halftone. With a ten-times magnifying glass, the original engraving resolves into 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, the watermark should appear as if formed within the paper, not printed on top.
- Banknote paper, not photocopier paper. The original is a durable, substantive paper that rustles when shaken. Modern coated paper is smooth and cold.
Specific checks for this banknote
- Check the exact design. On the obverse — winged Mercury holding a globe. On the reverse — a female figure with a helmet, seated with a sword and a lion.
- Look for the Charles I watermark. When held up to the light, the king's head should appear formed within the paper.
- Look at the top left corner of the obverse. Some copies bear a dry seal (embossed, without ink): this is the validation performed by the Second Republic in 1931 so that they could continue circulating. You can feel it when running your finger over it, and sometimes it is visible to the naked eye. It is not a defect: with the seal and without the seal are two distinct catalog variants (the "a" and "b" of the Pick).
- Keep the print run in mind. 500,000 copies were printed, a short run for a banknote that was in use from 1925.
I will verify it for you for free. If it turns out to be a reproduction, I will tell you anyway: I have nothing to gain 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 is king. It is a very high face-value banknote for its time, which few families held, and those that appear are usually quite well-used. A clean specimen without repairs is very different from one that is heavily worn. The variant with or without the seal also counts.
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 number 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 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 it from you
You send me photos via WhatsApp—obverse, reverse, a detail of the serial number, and one held up to the light—and I will respond 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 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 value it just for insurance or inheritance purposes, without selling anything, and I can manage the PMG grading or consignment for you.
You do not need to live nearby: I buy throughout Spain using this same system. And if you are from Asturias, I can come to your home without charging you for the visit, or we can look at it in my shop in Gijón, at Calle Cabrales 77, by appointment.
Frequently asked questions
What appears on the 1000 peseta banknote of 1907 "the angel"?
Winged Mercury holding a globe, known as "the angel". On the reverse, a female figure with a helmet representing Spain, with a sword and a lion.
How many were printed?
500,000 copies were printed, a short run for a banknote that was in use from 1925.
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 pattern 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 1000 peseta banknote of 1907 worth?
It depends entirely on the specimen: condition, margins, and any repairs change 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 has not been restored. For banknotes from this period, honest circulation is not a problem; what truly penalizes value is repair.
Why is it from 1907 if it circulated in 1925?
Because the Bank of Spain printed it in 1907 but kept it in reserve, and did not put it into circulation until January 1925. The date on the banknote does not always coincide with the date of its use.
The other banknotes from this issue
- 25 peseta banknote of 1906 — the seated allegory
- 50 peseta banknote of 1906 — the allegory with the caduceus
- 100 peseta banknote of 1906 — the allegories with the lyre
- 500 peseta banknote of 1907 (January issue) — "the medallion"
Other 1000 peseta banknotes from the Bank of Spain
If you are not quite sure which one is yours, compare it with these: they are all 1000 pesetas but from different issues.
- 1000 peseta banknote of 1874 — Alonso Cano
- 1000 peseta banknote of 1875 — the allegorical medallions
- 1000 peseta banknote of 1876 — Lope de Vega
- 1000 peseta banknote of 1878 — Cervantes
- 1000 peseta banknote of 1880 — Murillo
- 1000 peseta banknote of 1884 (January issue) — Mendizábal
- 1000 peseta banknote of 1884 (July issue) — the Marquis of Ensenada
- 1000 peseta banknote of 1886 — Goya
- 1000 peseta banknote of 1895 — Cabarrús
- 1000 peseta banknote of 1907 (July issue) — the Royal Palace
- 1000 peseta banknote of 1925 — Charles I
- 1000 peseta banknote of 1928 — Ferdinand III the Saint
General guide: selling old Bank of Spain banknotes. If you have more pesetas kept around the house, check 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