1874 25-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, 25 PESETAS, and the date July 1, 1874, this is what you have: the banknote cataloged as Pick-1.
It is part of the July 1, 1874 issue: the first issue after the decree of March 19, 1874, which gave the Bank of Spain the monopoly on issuance.
Here is 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 explain why below.
What the obverse scene represents
There is no historical figure on this banknote. The obverse is occupied by allegorical children carrying baskets, to the left and right of the center, in the tradition of the putti that 19th-century European engraving used to represent abundance and work.
It is the lowest denomination of the first issue and the one that had to circulate from hand to hand: for small denominations, the Bank preferred pleasant and universal images rather than portraits that required the bearer to know who the person in the engraving was.
Banknote fact sheet
| Face value | 25 pesetas |
|---|---|
| Banknote date | July 1, 1874 |
| Pick catalog | P-1 |
| Edifil catalog | to be confirmed |
| Printer | Bank of Spain workshop, Madrid |
| Print run | 193,000 copies |
| Dimensions | to be confirmed |
| Put into circulation | — |
| Obverse | Allegorical children carrying baskets to the left and right of the center |
| Reverse | Geometric designs with the value |
A note about this specific banknote. It is the only banknote in the series for which I have not been able to confirm the Edifil reference or the dimensions with a catalog.
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 circulate: collector prints from the seventies and eighties, catalog facsimiles, and press reprints.
This banknote was engraved and printed in the Bank of Spain workshop in Madrid, using intaglio technique on thread paper. That leaves specific marks that a modern reproduction does not have:
- Relief to the touch. Run your fingertip over the portrait, the numbers, and the title letters: on an original, you can feel the raised ink. An offset-printed facsimile is completely flat.
- Engraved line, not halftone dots. With a ten-times magnification loupe, the original portrait is rendered in fine, continuous lines. If you see a grid of dots, it is a modern print.
- Watermark in the paper pulp. When held up to the light, it should appear as formed within the paper, not printed on top.
- Cotton thread paper, rough and crisp when shaken. Modern coated paper is smooth and cold.
Specific checks for this banknote
- Check the exact motif. On the obverse — allegorical children carrying baskets to the left and right of the center. On the reverse — geometric designs with the value.
- Keep the print run in mind. 193,000 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 the same: I have nothing to gain by making you believe otherwise.
Original or facsimile? I'll let you know today, no strings attached
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, preservation is key, followed closely by repairs: a specimen that has been washed, ironed, had tears taped, or had margins trimmed loses a great deal of value, even if it "looks better."
I do not publish price ranges, and I explain 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 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 tape anything with scotch tape, and do not put it in soft PVC. All four things are irreversible. I explain this in detail in my guide to selling old banknotes.
How I buy them 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 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 funds the same day I receive and verify the piece; if it does not match the photos, I will return it to you and pay for the return shipping myself.
I am Fran, from Iberoamericana Banknotes, an authorized PMG dealer. I can also value it for you solely for insurance or inheritance purposes, without selling anything, and I can manage the PMG grading or consignment for you.
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 without charging for the visit, or we can meet at my shop in Gijon, at Calle Cabrales 77, by appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What appears on the 1874 25 pesetas banknote?
It does not have any historical figure. On the obverse — allegorical children carrying baskets to the left and right of the center. On the reverse — geometric designs with the value.
How many were printed?
The print run was 193,000 copies. Be careful with a common confusion: a high print run in the 19th century does not mean that 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 quickest way: look at the portrait with a loupe (continuous engraved line on an original, dot halftone 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 1874 25 pesetas banknote worth?
It depends entirely on the specimen: preservation, margins, and any repairs change 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 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 from this issue
- 50 pesetas banknote 1874 — Rafael Esteve
- 100 pesetas banknote 1874 — Juan de Herrera
- 500 pesetas banknote 1874 — Goya
- 1000 pesetas banknote 1874 — Alonso Cano
Other 25 pesetas banknotes from the Bank of Spain
If you aren't sure which one you have, compare it with these: they are all 25 pesetas but from different issues.
- 25 pesetas banknote 1875 — The farm girl and Mercury
- 25 pesetas banknote 1884 (January issue) — The geography lesson
- 25 pesetas banknote 1884 (July issue) — Santillan
- 25 pesetas banknote 1886 — Goya
- 25 pesetas banknote 1889 — Goya (second issue)
- 25 pesetas banknote 1893 — Jovellanos
- 25 pesetas banknote 1899 — Quevedo
- 25 pesetas banknote 1904 — The banknote that did not circulate
- 25 pesetas banknote 1906 — The seated allegory
- 25 pesetas banknote 1907 — The Alhambra
- 25 pesetas banknote 1908 — Quintana (the one that did not circulate)
- 25 pesetas banknote 1926 — Saint Francis Xavier
- 25 pesetas banknote 1928 — Calderón de la Barca
- 25 pesetas banknote 1936 — Joaquín Sorolla
- 25 pesetas banknote 1937 — Columbus (the one that never circulated)
- 25 pesetas banknote 1938 — La Giralda (Burgos)
- 25 pesetas banknote 1940 — Juan de Herrera
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