1906 50-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, 50 PESETAS, and the date September 24, 1906, this is what you have: the banknote cataloged as Pick-58.
It is part of the first series of allegories (1906-1907): the Bank of Spain stopped using faces of historical figures and returned to commissioning its banknotes from the London firm Bradbury Wilkinson, featuring allegorical figures on the obverse and the coat of arms of Spain on the reverse.
Here you will find who or what appears on it, how to distinguish it from those that look similar, how to check if yours is original, and what to do if you want to sell it. You will not find prices: I explain why below.
What this banknote represents
It does not feature any historical figure. The obverse shows an allegorical woman standing next to a globe, with Mercury's caduceus, symbol of commerce. On the reverse, the crowned coat of arms of Spain among geometric and floral motifs.
It is the sibling of the 25 pesetas banknote of the same date: both were printed in London by Bradbury Wilkinson and share the same style, signatures, and the 1931 republican revalidation.
Banknote specification
| Face value | 50 pesetas |
|---|---|
| Date of issue | September 24, 1906 |
| Pick Catalog | P-58 |
| Printer | Bradbury Wilkinson & Co., London |
| Series | no series and series A to C |
| Mintage | 20,000,000 copies |
| Dimensions | 130 × 91 mm |
| Put into circulation | June 1907 |
| Signatures | The Count of Sagasta, Emilio Rodero and Luis Clemente Fabiani |
| Obverse | Allegorical woman standing next to a globe, with the caduceus |
| Reverse | Crowned coat of arms of Spain with geometric and floral motifs |
How to tell if yours is original
It is worth knowing this first and foremost, because there are many more reproductions than originals of Spanish banknotes from this era in circulation: collector plates 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 (engraving) technique. This leaves specific marks that a modern reproduction does not have:
- Relief to the touch. Run your fingertip over the drawing, the numbers, and the title letters: on an original, you can feel the raised ink. A facsimile printed in offset is completely flat.
- Engraved line, not screening. With a ten-power magnifying glass, the original engraving resolves into fine, continuous lines. If you see a grid of dots, 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 photocopier paper. The original is durable, 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 130 × 91 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 standing next to a globe, with the caduceus. On the reverse — the crowned coat of arms of Spain.
- Look at the top right corner of the obverse. Some specimens bear a dry seal (embossed, without ink): this is the revalidation made by the Second Republic in 1931 so they could continue to circulate. You can feel it when running your finger over it, and sometimes it is visible to the naked eye. It is not a defect: with a seal and without a seal are two different catalog variants (the "a" and "b" of the Pick).
- Keep the mintage in mind. 20,000,000 copies were printed, as it was a daily-use banknote. That is why today, what matters most is the state of each individual specimen.
I will 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 will tell you today, no strings attached
WhatsApp +34 644 54 98 79
info@iberoamericanabanknotes.com
What makes it worth more or less
Since it is a high-mintage banknote, conservation is key: the difference between one that is heavily circulated and one that is clean and unrestored is very significant. The variant (with or without dry seal) and the series also play a role.
I do not publish price ranges, and I'll explain why: the value depends entirely on the specific specimen, and that cannot fit in a table. A generic figure from the internet only serves to lead 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 tape anything with cellophane, 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 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 on 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.
I am Fran, from Iberoamericana Banknotes, an authorized PMG dealer. I can also appraise it just for insurance or inheritance purposes, without buying anything, and I can manage the PMG grading or consignment for you.
I buy throughout Spain, wherever you live, and the process is always this. If you are nearby, in any municipality in Asturias I will go to see it at your home at no cost, and you can also bring it to my shop in Gijón, at Calle Cabrales 77, by appointment.
Frequently asked questions
What appears on the 1906 50 pesetas banknote?
It does not feature any historical figure. The obverse shows an allegorical woman next to a globe with a caduceus; on the reverse, the crowned coat of arms of Spain.
How many were printed?
20,000,000 copies were printed, as it was a daily-use banknote. That is why today, what matters most is the condition of each specimen.
How do I know if mine is original or a reproduction?
The fastest way: look at the drawing with a magnifying glass (continuous engraved line on an original, dot screening 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 1906 50 pesetas banknote worth?
It depends entirely on the specimen: conservation, margins, and any repairs move the price drastically. I do not provide blind figures 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, provided it is original and not restored. For banknotes of this era, honest circulation is not a problem; what truly penalizes value is repair.
What is the embossed seal that mine has?
It is the dry seal with which the Second Republic revalidated these banknotes in 1931, in the upper right corner of the obverse. It is not a defect: it is a recognized catalog variant.
The other banknotes of this issue
- 25 pesetas banknote of 1906 — the seated allegory
- 100 pesetas banknote of 1906 — the allegories with the lyre
- 500 pesetas banknote of 1907 (January issue) — "the medallion"
- 1000 pesetas banknote of 1907 (May issue) — "the angel"
Other 50 pesetas banknotes from the Bank of Spain
If you aren't quite sure which one is yours, compare it with these: they are all 50 pesetas but from different issues.
- 50 pesetas banknote of 1874 — Rafael Esteve
- 50 pesetas banknote of 1875 — the allegories of commerce
- 50 pesetas banknote of 1878 — Calderón de la Barca
- 50 pesetas banknote of 1880 — Campomanes
- 50 pesetas banknote of 1884 (January issue) — Mendizábal
- 50 pesetas banknote of 1884 (July issue) — Bravo Murillo
- 50 pesetas banknote of 1886 — Goya
- 50 pesetas banknote of 1889 — Goya (second issue)
- 50 pesetas banknote of 1893 — Jovellanos
- 50 pesetas banknote of 1898 — Jovellanos
- 50 pesetas banknote of 1899 — Quevedo
- 50 pesetas banknote of 1902 — Velázquez
- 50 pesetas banknote of 1905 — Echegaray
- 50 pesetas banknote of 1907 — Burgos
- 50 pesetas banknote of 1927 — Alfonso XIII
- 50 pesetas banknote of 1928 — Velázquez and the Prado Museum
- 50 pesetas banknote of 1931 — Eduardo Rosales
- 50 pesetas banknote of 1935 — Santiago Ramón y Cajal
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