1925 1000-peseta banknote (Carlos I): what it is and if yours is worth anything
Compartir
If you have in front of you a banknote that reads EL BANCO DE ESPAÑA, 1000 PESETAS, and the date July 10, 1925, this is what you have: the banknote cataloged as Pick-70.
It is part of the 1925 issue, printed in England by Bradbury Wilkinson during the reign of Alfonso XIII. Two banknotes were released: the 100-peseta note, featuring Philip II, and the 1000-peseta note, featuring Charles I. A third one was planned, a 500-peseta note featuring Cardinal Cisneros, which was never issued; only printing proofs of it exist.
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 here: I explain why further down.
Charles I: who is the face on this banknote
Charles I of Spain and V of Germany (Ghent, 1500 - Yuste, 1558), the emperor: King of Spain from 1516 and father of Philip II, who appears on the 100-peseta note from this same issue.
The reverse features a gate of the Alcázar of Toledo, the palace-fortress that Charles I ordered to be renovated.
Banknote specification sheet
| Face value | 1000 pesetas |
|---|---|
| Date of issue | July 10, 1925 |
| Pick Catalog | P-70 |
| Printer | Bradbury Wilkinson & Co., New Malden (England) |
| Series | No series |
| Signatures | Carlos Vergara Cailleaux, Adolfo Castaño Orejón, and Bonifacio Burgos Delgado |
| Obverse | Charles I |
| Reverse | Gate of the Alcázar of Toledo |
How to know if yours is original
Many originals of this banknote have been preserved, but there are also reproductions in circulation: collector's prints from the seventies and eighties, catalog facsimiles, and press reprints. It is best to rule this out first.
This banknote was printed in England by the Bradbury Wilkinson firm, 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 numbers, 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 screening. 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 of it.
- Banknote paper, not photocopier paper. The original is a durable, substantial paper that makes a sound when shaken. Modern coated paper is smooth and cold.
Specific checks for this banknote
- Check the exact design. On the obverse — Emperor Charles I. On the reverse — a gate of the Alcázar of Toledo.
- Look for the dry seal. Some specimens bear an embossed seal, without ink: this is the validation performed by the Second Republic in 1931 so that they would continue to circulate. It is visible to the naked eye and can be felt by gently running your fingers over it. "With seal" and "without seal" are distinct catalog variants.
- Check the numbering. From 0,000,001 to 3,646,000, they are from before the Republic; from 3,646,001 to 5,000,000, they were put into circulation after the start of the war, in July 1936. These are different catalog variants.
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 strings attached
WhatsApp +34 644 54 98 79
info@iberoamericanabanknotes.com
Is your banknote worth anything? Most likely, no
I am telling you clearly, because it is what I am asked the most: there are tons of these banknotes. They were printed by the millions, circulated for years, and many families kept one in a drawer. Except for rare exceptions, only those that are in perfect condition have value: without stains, folds, tears, or worn corners. The most common thing is that yours, if it has circulated, is worth nothing or almost nothing.
To know if it is truly perfect, look at it under tangential light: turn off the ceiling light, place a lamp or light from a window to the side, almost grazing the banknote, and tilt it slowly. This is how creases, signs of it having been folded, and pressed areas appear, which are not visible from the front. A banknote that looks new at first glance often has a fold in the center.
A thousand pesetas was a lot of money in 1925, and yet quite a few have been preserved. What counts here, besides the condition, is the variant: the numbering and the dry seal.
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 tape anything with adhesive 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 them from you
If yours is perfect, or is one of those exceptions, the process is simple.
You send me photos via WhatsApp —obverse, reverse, a detail of the numbering, and one held up to the light— and I will reply within 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 and pay for the return shipping.
I am Fran, from Iberoamericana Banknotes, an authorized PMG dealer. I can also appraise it for you for insurance or inheritance purposes, without buying it, and I can manage the PMG grading or consignment for you.
It doesn't matter where you live: I buy throughout Spain and the process is the same. If you are in Asturias, I can even come to see it at your house at no cost, or we can look at it calmly at my store in Gijón, at Calle Cabrales 77, by appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Who is on the 1000-peseta 1925 banknote?
Emperor Charles I. On the reverse, there is a gate of the Alcázar of Toledo.
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 for an original, dotted grid for 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 1925 banknote worth?
The most common thing is little to nothing. Many of these banknotes have been preserved and, except for rare exceptions, only perfect specimens have value: without stains, folds, or tears. Look at it under tangential light, a side light grazing the note, to see if it has creases. If it is perfect, send me photos and I will tell you what it is worth.
Do you buy it even if it has circulated?
Usually no. There are so many of these banknotes that a specimen with folds, stains, or tears has no outlet among collectors. I am only interested in those that are perfect or rare variants. If you have doubts, send me photos and I will tell you, no strings attached.
The other banknotes from this issue
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 1874 banknote — Alonso Cano
- 1000-peseta 1875 banknote — allegorical medallions
- 1000-peseta 1876 banknote — Lope de Vega
- 1000-peseta 1878 banknote — Cervantes
- 1000-peseta 1880 banknote — Murillo
- 1000-peseta 1884 banknote (January issue) — Mendizábal
- 1000-peseta 1884 banknote (July issue) — Marquis of Ensenada
- 1000-peseta 1886 banknote — Goya
- 1000-peseta 1895 banknote — Cabarrús
- 1000-peseta 1907 banknote (May issue) — "the angel"
- 1000-peseta 1907 banknote (July issue) — the Royal Palace
- 1000-peseta 1928 banknote — Ferdinand III the Saint
General guide: selling old Bank of Spain banknotes. If you also have pesetas from other eras, here is 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