1884 25-peseta banknote (January issue): what it is and what to do if you have one

If you have before you a banknote that reads EL BANCO DE ESPAÑA, 25 PESETAS, and is dated January 1, 1884, this is what you have: the banknote cataloged as Pick-24.

It is part of the January 1, 1884 issue: the Mendizábal issue, four of whose five banknotes bear the portrait of the Minister of the Disentailment.

Here you will find who or what appears on it, how to distinguish it from similar ones, how to verify if yours is an original, and what to do if you want to sell it. You will not find prices here: I explain why below.

What the scene on the obverse represents

It is the only banknote from the January 1884 issue that does not bear the portrait of Mendizábal. In its place is a central oval medallion with the scene known as "the geography lesson": three children with a book.

The choice fits the criteria of the entire series: for the lowest denomination, which circulates the most, a friendly and didactic image instead of a controversial politician. The reverse features the crowned coat of arms of Spain in red.

Banknote fact sheet

Face value	25 pesetas
Banknote date	January 1, 1884
Pick catalog	P-24
Edifil catalog	to be confirmed
Printer	American Bank Note Company, New York
Print run	2,000,000 copies
Dimensions	112 × 68 mm
Put into circulation	—
Obverse	"The geography lesson" scene —three children with a book— in a central oval medallion, black print on an ochre background with red numbering
Reverse	Red print with the crowned coat of arms of Spain and geometric designs

How to tell if yours is an original

It is important to know this first, because many more reproductions than originals of Spanish banknotes from this era are in circulation: collector's prints from the seventies and eighties, catalog facsimiles, and press reprints.

This banknote was engraved by the American Bank Note Company, the New York firm that printed a large part of the world's paper money at the time. Its quality is the easiest to distinguish in the entire series, as it is far superior:

• Fine-line steel engraving. Under a magnifying glass, the portrait lines are sharp and continuous, never a dot pattern.
• Guilloche backgrounds with continuous lines, generated by geometric machine. These are practically impossible to reproduce well in a photographic copy: in a facsimile, they appear blurred or with moiré patterns.
• Imprint of the American Bank Note Company, usually on the bottom edge. Photograph it: it is one of the first things I check.
• Intaglio relief perceptible to the touch in the portrait, figures, and letters.

Specific checks for this banknote

• Measure it. This banknote measures 112 × 68 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 — "the geography lesson" scene —three children with a book— in a central oval medallion, black print on an ochre background with red numbering. On the reverse — red print with the crowned coat of arms of Spain and geometric designs.
• Keep the print run in mind. 2,000,000 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 regardless: I gain nothing 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 19th-century series, preservation is key, followed closely by repairs: a specimen that has been washed, ironed, has taped tears, or has trimmed margins 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 does not fit in a table. A generic figure from the internet only leads 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 use tape on anything, and do not put it in soft PVC. All four 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 backlit— and I will respond 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 on the same day I receive and verify the item; if it does not match the photos, I will return it and pay for the return shipping.

I am Fran, from Iberoamericana Banknotes, an authorized PMG dealer. I can also appraise 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 at no charge for the visit, or we can meet at my store in Gijón, at Calle Cabrales 77, by appointment.

Frequently asked questions

What appears on the 1884 25 peseta banknote?
It features no historical figure. On the obverse — "the geography lesson" scene —three children with a book— in a central oval medallion, black print on an ochre background with red numbering. On the reverse — red print with the crowned coat of arms of Spain and geometric designs.

How many were printed?
The print run was 2,000,000 copies. Beware of a common misconception: 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 an original or a reproduction?
The quickest way: look at the portrait with a magnifying glass (a continuous engraved line in an original, a dot pattern in 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 1884 25 peseta banknote worth?
It depends entirely on the specimen: the preservation, margins, and any repairs change the price drastically. I do not give out blind figures because it 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 an 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 banknote from 1884 (January issue) — Mendizábal
• 100 peseta banknote from 1884 (January issue) — Mendizábal
• 500 peseta banknote from 1884 (January issue) — Mendizábal
• 1000 peseta banknote from 1884 (January issue) — Mendizábal

Other 25 peseta Bank of Spain banknotes

If you aren't sure which one you have, compare it to these: they are all 25 pesetas but from different issues.

• 25 peseta banknote from 1874 — children carrying baskets
• 25 peseta banknote from 1875 — the farm girl and Mercury
• 25 peseta banknote from 1884 (July issue) — Santillán
• 25 peseta banknote from 1886 — Goya
• 25 peseta banknote from 1889 — Goya (second issue)
• 25 peseta banknote from 1893 — Jovellanos
• 25 peseta banknote from 1899 — Quevedo
• 25 peseta banknote from 1904 — the banknote that never circulated
• 25 peseta banknote from 1906 — the seated allegory
• 25 peseta banknote from 1907 — the Alhambra
• 25 peseta banknote from 1926 — Saint Francis Xavier
• 25 peseta banknote from 1928 — Calderón de la Barca
• 25 peseta banknote from 1936 — Joaquín Sorolla
• 25 peseta banknote from 1937 — Columbus (the one that never circulated)
• 25 peseta banknote from 1938 — the Giralda (Burgos)
• 25 peseta banknote from 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'll tell you today what you have.
WhatsApp +34 644 54 98 79