1936 (Burgos) 5-peseta banknote: what it is and whether yours is worth anything

If you have a banknote in front of you that reads BANCO DE ESPAÑA, CINCO PESETAS and the date Burgos, November 21, 1936, this is what you have: the banknote cataloged as Pick-97 (Edifil 417).

Obverse of the 5 pesetas Bank of Spain banknote from November 21, 1936, with the Spanish coat of arms Reverse of the 5 pesetas Bank of Spain banknote from November 21, 1936
Obverse and reverse of the 5 pesetas banknote from November 21, 1936. Image from the Banknote Mate (Catamates) catalog, used with permission.

It is one of the first banknotes from the Bank of Spain of Burgos, the one in the Nationalist zone during the Civil War. It bears the same date as the major 1936 Burgos issue, but it did not come from Germany like the large banknotes: it was printed by Litografía M. Portabella, in Zaragoza, as can be read at the bottom of the obverse. It was put into circulation on June 14, 1937.

Here you will find who or what appears on it, how to distinguish it from similar-looking ones, how to check if yours is original, and what to do if you want to sell it. You won't find prices: I will explain why below.

What appears on this banknote

It does not have a portrait. On the obverse, over a bluish-gray background, the crowned coat of arms of Spain is at the top right, with the legend "Banco de España, Cinco pesetas de curso legal," the date "Burgos 21 de Noviembre de 1936," and the signatures of the governor, the controller, and the cashier, all preceded by "P." (for). A large "5" is at the bottom left.

On the reverse, there is a large motif of leaves and scrolls with "Cinco pesetas" in the center, "5" digits in the corners, and the warning "La falsificación de este billete será sancionada con el máximo rigor" (The forgery of this banknote will be punished with the utmost rigor).

During the Civil War, there were two Banks of Spain: the one in Madrid, under the Republic, and the one the Nationalists set up in Burgos. Since the printing plates and banknote reserves were in Madrid, the Bank of Burgos had to order new banknotes from printing houses outside their control: Spanish lithographers like the one in Zaragoza and foreign firms like the German company Giesecke & Devrient. When the war ended, these Burgos banknotes remained valid; those of the Republic put into circulation after July 18, 1936, were voided.

Banknote fact sheet

Face value 5 pesetas
Banknote date Burgos, November 21, 1936
Pick catalog P-97
Edifil 417
Printer Litografía M. Portabella, Zaragoza
Technique Lithography
Dimensions 121 × 71 mm
Series No series
Print run 8,000,000 copies
Put into circulation June 14, 1937
Signatures Ramón Artigas Gracia, Antonio García Victoria and Juan Villarroya Masfarner
Obverse Crowned Spanish coat of arms
Reverse Floral motif with "Cinco pesetas"

How to know if yours is original

Reproductions of this banknote exist, but they are not common. The important thing is to know that an original from Burgos does not feel like the engraved banknotes from before the war:

  • No relief: this is normal. These banknotes were printed via lithography, not intaglio engraving, so an original is smooth to the touch. Do not dismiss it because of that.
  • Screen of lines, not dots. With a 10x magnifying glass, the backgrounds of an original are made of thin lines and continuous geometric patterns. A photocopy or inkjet print turns them into a cloud of color dots.
  • Banknote paper. The original is a thin but firm paper with body. A reproduction on office paper is whiter, smoother, and folds differently.
  • Numbering stamped separately. The serial numbers were stamped separately with metal type: with a magnifying glass, you can see that the red ink is "resting" on the paper, with sharp edges.

Specific checks for this banknote

  • Look for the printer's mark. Below the frame on the obverse, in very small print, it reads "Lit. M. Portabella Zaragoza."
  • Check the numbering. Seven digits in red, with commas (for example, "0,022,513"), once on the obverse and once on the reverse. They must match.
  • Look at the signatures. All three are preceded by "P.": "P. el Gobernador," "P. el Cajero," "P. el Interventor."
  • Do not confuse it with the 1937 and 1938 ones. The 1937 5 pesetas banknote from Burgos features a seated woman with a caduceus; the 1938 one has a large "5" on the obverse. This 1936 one has the coat of arms.

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

Is your banknote worth anything?

This banknote is at an intermediate point: there aren't tons of them like the small post-war banknotes, but it is not a rarity either. A heavily used copy, with tears, stains, or adhesive tape, has little interest. A well-preserved one, with firm paper and few folds, can have value, and an uncirculated one, significantly more.

To find out 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, marks from being folded, and ironed areas appear, which cannot be seen from the front. A banknote that looks new at first glance often has a fold in the center.

I do not publish price ranges, and I'll explain why: the value depends entirely on the specific specimen, and that cannot fit into a table. A generic figure from the internet only leads 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 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 antique banknotes.

How I buy from you

If yours is well preserved, the process is simple.

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, with a firm offer. I pay for 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 and pay for the return shipping myself.

I'm 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 house without charging for the visit, or we can look at it in my store in Gijón, on Calle Cabrales 77, by appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is on the 5 pesetas banknote of 1936?
It does not have a portrait: the obverse shows the crowned coat of arms of Spain at the top right, with the legend "Cinco pesetas de curso legal" and the Burgos date. The reverse is a large floral motif with "Cinco pesetas" in the center.

Is it a banknote of the Republic or Franco?
From the Bank of Spain of Burgos, the one in the Nationalist zone. It bears the date Burgos, November 21, 1936, and was put into circulation in June 1937.

Why does it have no series letter?
Because it was issued without a series: it only has a seven-digit number, in red, on the obverse and reverse.

Can I exchange it at the Bank of Spain?
No. Pesetas could no longer be exchanged as of 2021, and besides, this banknote had already lost its legal tender status long before that. Today it only has collector's value.

How much is the 1936 5 pesetas banknote worth?
It depends primarily on the condition. It is not one of the banknotes found in heaps, but it is not a rarity either: very used ones are of little interest, while well-preserved ones are worth significantly more. That is why I do not give general figures: send me photos and I will value yours.

Do you buy it even if it has folds?
It depends on the condition. If it is complete, without large tears or adhesive tape, send me photos and I will tell you if it fits my needs. Unfolded copies are the ones of most interest.

The other banknotes of this issue

With the same date of November 21, 1936, the Bank of Burgos also commissioned these banknotes. If you have any of them, send me photos just like with this one:

Other 5 pesetas banknotes from the Bank of Spain

If you aren't sure which one you have, compare it with these: they are all 5 pesetas but from different issues.

General guide: selling antique 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

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