1907 25-peseta banknote: what it is and what to do if you have one

If you have a banknote in front of you that reads EL BANCO DE ESPAÑA, 25 PESETAS, and is dated July 15, 1907, this is what you have: the banknote cataloged as Pick-62.

It is part of the July 15, 1907 issue, the second series of allegories printed in London by Bradbury Wilkinson. Each banknote features a Spanish monument on the reverse, and interestingly, the Bank held them in reserve for years: many of these banknotes were not put into circulation until the 1920s.

Here you will find who or what appears on it, how to distinguish it from similar ones, how to check 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 this banknote represents

The obverse features an allegorical woman reclining next to a shield, with a female portrait and floral motifs. On the reverse, the Patio de los Leones (Court of the Lions) of the Alhambra in Granada.

Although it is dated 1907, this banknote was not put into circulation until August 1926. It later lived through the Republic and the war: some bear the dry seal of 1931 and others, a "Spanish State, Burgos" stamp applied from 1936 onwards.

Banknote Fact Sheet

Face value 25 pesetas
Date of issue July 15, 1907
Pick Catalog P-62
Printer Bradbury Wilkinson & Co., London
Print run 8,000,000 copies
Dimensions 109 × 70 mm
Put into circulation August 1926
Signatures José Sánchez Guerra, Emilio Rodero and Luis Clemente Fabiani
Obverse Allegorical woman reclining next to a shield, with a female portrait
Reverse Patio de los Leones (Court of the Lions) of the Alhambra in Granada

How to tell if yours is an original

It is worth knowing this first, as there are many more reproductions than originals circulating of Spanish banknotes from this era: collector's prints from the seventies and eighties, catalog facsimiles, and press reprints.

This banknote was printed in London by the Bradbury Wilkinson firm, one of the world's great banknote printers, using intaglio printing (steel engraving) techniques. 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 title letters: on 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 thin, continuous lines. If you see a dot matrix, it is a modern print.
  • Watermark in the pulp. Held up to the light, the watermark should appear formed within the paper, not printed on top.
  • Banknote paper, not photocopy paper. The original is strong, substantial paper that makes a sound when shaken. Modern coated paper is smooth and cold.

Specific checks for this banknote

  • Measure it. This banknote measures 109 × 70 mm. Photographic copies almost always lose two or three millimeters, so a ruler settles many doubts in ten seconds.
  • Check the exact motif. On the obverse — an allegorical woman reclining next to a shield. On the reverse — the Patio de los Leones of the Alhambra.
  • Look at the top right corner of the obverse. Some specimens bear a dry seal (embossed, without ink): this is the revalidation applied by the Second Republic in 1931 to allow them to remain in circulation. It can be felt by running your finger over it and is sometimes visible to the naked eye. It is not a defect: with and without the seal, they are two different catalog variants (the "a" and "b" of the Pick).
  • Keep the print run in mind. 8,000,000 copies were printed, and as it was in use for years, quite a few have survived. That is why the condition of each individual piece matters most.

I can 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 can tell you today, no strings attached
WhatsApp +34 644 54 98 79
info@iberoamericanabanknotes.com

What makes it worth more or less

Condition is king: this is a banknote that was used heavily, and those that appear clean and without strong creases are the ones that are truly of interest. The variant (with or without dry seal, with or without the Burgos seal) also plays a role.

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 figure from the internet only serves to lead to 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 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 them from you

You send me photos via WhatsApp—obverse, reverse, a detail of the numbering, 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 payment on 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 for you for insurance or inheritance purposes, without selling anything, and I can manage the grading process via PMG or consignment.

I buy throughout Spain, wherever you live, and the process is always this. If you are nearby, in any municipality in Asturias, I can come to see it at your home at no cost, or you can bring it to my shop in Gijón, at Calle Cabrales 77, by appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What appears on the 1907 25-peseta banknote?
On the obverse, an allegorical woman reclining next to a shield. On the reverse, the Patio de los Leones of the Alhambra in Granada.

How many were printed?
8,000,000 copies were printed, and as it was in use for years, quite a few have survived. That is why the condition of each individual piece matters most.

How do I know if mine is an original or a reproduction?
The quickest way: look at the design with a magnifying glass (continuous engraved line on an original, dot matrix 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 1907 25-peseta banknote worth?
It depends entirely on the specimen: the condition, the margins, and any repairs move the price drastically. I do not 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, as long as it is an original and has not been restored. For banknotes of this era, honest circulation is not a problem; what really penalizes the price is repairs.

What is the embossed seal on mine?
It is the dry seal with which the Second Republic revalidated these banknotes in 1931, located in the top right corner of the obverse. It is not a defect: it is a recognized catalog variant.

The other banknotes of this issue

Other 25-peseta banknotes from the Bank of Spain

If you are not quite sure which one is yours, compare it with these: they are all 25 pesetas but from different issues.

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 what you have today.
WhatsApp +34 644 54 98 79

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¿Prefieres venderlo en consignación?

Además de comprártelo, puedo venderlo por ti en consignación. Es la forma de sacar más dinero por tu colección: la ofrezco a los compradores que más pagan por cada pieza, porque llevo diez años construyendo una base de datos de compradores segmentada y sé a quién ofrecer cada billete o moneda.

Yo cobro un porcentaje de la venta, así que cuanto mejor la vendo, más ganas tú. La contrapartida es el tiempo: encontrar al comprador que más paga lleva más que una compra directa. Por eso es ideal si no tienes prisa por vender.

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Te atiendo en mi tienda de Gijón, Calle Cabrales 77, junto al Parque de Begoña, con cita previa. Y si vives lejos, en cualquier concejo de Asturias voy a tu casa gratis después de ver unas fotos.

Escríbeme por WhatsApp: +34 644 54 98 79