1884 25-peseta banknote (July issue): 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, 1884, this is what you have: the banknote cataloged as Pick-29 and Edifil 287.
It is part of the July 1, 1884 issue: agreed upon on July 7, 1884, to circulate alongside the January issue due to increased demand for banknotes, and dedicated entirely to Ministers of Finance and public administration reformers.
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 below.
Ramón de Santillán: who is the face on this banknote
Ramón de Santillán (Lerma, Burgos, 1791 - Madrid, 1863) was a military officer, Minister of Finance, and, above all, the first governor of the Banco de España after the 1856 merger that gave the bank its modern form. He also wrote a history of the bank itself which remains a reference source.
Together with Alejandro Mon, he signed the tax reform of 1845, which is the foundation of the contemporary Spanish tax system. That his portrait is on a Banco de España banknote has, therefore, a perfect internal logic: it is the bank putting into circulation the face of the person who designed it. The banknote even bears his surname, "SANTILLAN", printed on the obverse.
Banknote specification
| Face value | 25 pesetas |
|---|---|
| Date of issue | July 1, 1884 |
| Pick catalog | P-29 |
| Edifil catalog | 287 |
| Printer | Banco de España workshop, Madrid |
| Mintage | 2,000,000 copies |
| Dimensions | 112 × 74 mm |
| Put into circulation | April 18, 1887 |
| Obverse | Portrait of Ramón de Santillán with the label "SANTILLAN" printed on the banknote itself, black on a light ochre background |
| Reverse | Light blue printing with "25 PESETAS" and geometric designs |
A note on this specific banknote. It features a watermark with "B de E" and the number 25.
How to tell if yours is original
It is worth knowing this first and foremost, 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 and printed in the Banco de España workshop in Madrid, using intaglio techniques on linen paper. That leaves specific marks that a modern reproduction does not have:
- Raised ink/Tactile relief. Run your fingertip over the portrait, the numbers, 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 composed of 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, it should appear formed within the paper, not printed on top.
- Cotton linen paper, which is rough and makes a sound when shaken. Modern coated paper is smooth and cold.
Specific checks for this banknote
- Measure it. This banknote measures 112 × 74 mm. Photographic copies almost always lose two or three millimeters, so a ruler settles many doubts in ten seconds.
- Check the exact design. On the obverse — portrait of Ramón de Santillán with the label "SANTILLAN" printed on the banknote itself, black on a light ochre background. On the reverse — light blue printing with "25 PESETAS" and geometric designs.
- Keep the mintage in mind. 2,000,000 copies were printed, but that was over 140 years ago, and the vast majority were withdrawn and destroyed.
I can confirm it 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 obligation
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, condition is king, followed closely by repairs: a specimen that has been washed, ironed, has taped tears, or trimmed margins loses a great deal of value, even if it "looks better."
I do not publish price ranges, and I'll explain why: the value depends entirely on the specific specimen, and that doesn't fit into a table. A generic internet figure 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, and do not put it in soft PVC. All four are irreversible. I explain this in detail in my guide to selling antique banknotes.
How I buy 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, providing a firm offer. I pay for shipping, and I transfer the funds the same day I receive and verify the piece; if it doesn't match the photos, I will return it and pay for the return shipping.
I am Fran, from Iberoamericana Banknotes, a PMG authorized dealer. I can also value it for insurance or inheritance purposes, without buying it, and I can manage your PMG grading or consignment.
It doesn't matter where you live: I buy throughout Spain and the process is the same. If you are in Asturias, I can also come to see it at your home at no cost, or we can look at it calmly in my Gijón store, at Calle Cabrales 77, by appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Who is on the 25 pesetas 1884 banknote?
Ramón de Santillán. On the obverse — portrait of Ramón de Santillán with the label "SANTILLAN" printed on the banknote itself, black on a light ochre background.
How many were printed?
The mintage was 2,000,000 copies. Beware of a common confusion: a high mintage 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 an original or a reproduction?
The quickest way: look at the portrait with a magnifying glass (a continuous engraved line for an original, a grid of dots 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.
What is the 25 pesetas 1884 banknote worth?
It depends entirely on the specimen: condition, margins, and any repairs change the price drastically. I don't give figures blindly 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, provided it is original and not restored. For banknotes from this era, honest circulation is not a problem; what truly penalizes the value is repairs.
The other banknotes in this issue
- 50 pesetas banknote from 1884 (July issue) — Bravo Murillo
- 100 pesetas banknote from 1884 (July issue) — Alejandro Mon
- 500 pesetas banknote from 1884 (July issue) — Floridablanca
- 1000 pesetas banknote from 1884 (July issue) — Marquis of Ensenada
Other 25 pesetas banknotes from the Banco de España
If you are not quite sure which one is yours, compare it with these: they are all 25 pesetas but from different issues.
- 25 pesetas banknote 1874 — children carrying baskets
- 25 pesetas banknote 1875 — the peasant woman and Mercury
- 25 pesetas banknote 1884 (January issue) — the geography lesson
- 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 never circulated)
- 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 antique Banco de España banknotes. And if more pesetas have appeared in the same drawer, I'll tell you 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