1907 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 is dated July 15, 1907, this is what you have: the banknote cataloged as Pick-63.
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 kept 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 original, and what to do if you want to sell it. You won't find prices here; I explain why below.
What this banknote represents
The obverse features a monarch's bust in a central oval, between allegorical female figures and Ionic columns. On the reverse, the Arco de Santa María and the Cathedral of Burgos.
Like the rest of the July 15, 1907 issue, the Bank kept it in storage for years: it was not put into circulation until September 1926.
Banknote Fact Sheet
| Face value | 50 pesetas |
|---|---|
| Date of banknote | July 15, 1907 |
| Pick Catalog | P-63 |
| Printer | Bradbury Wilkinson & Co., London |
| Mintage | 10,000,000 copies |
| Dimensions | 120 × 80 mm |
| Put into circulation | September 1926 |
| Signatures | José Sánchez Guerra, Emilio Rodero, and Luis Clemente Fabiani |
| Obverse | Monarch's bust in central oval, between allegorical female figures and Ionic columns |
| Reverse | Arco de Santa María and Cathedral of Burgos |
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 period are in circulation: collector's sheets 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 the intaglio printing technique. This leaves specific marks that a modern reproduction does not have:
- Relief to the touch. Run your fingertip over the design, the figures, and the letters of the title: on an original, you can feel the ink's texture. An offset-printed facsimile is completely flat.
- Engraved line, not screening. With a 10x magnifying glass, the original engraving resolves into fine, continuous lines. If you see a dot matrix pattern, it is a modern print.
- Watermark in the pulp. When 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 a durable, substantive paper that makes a sound when flicked. Modern coated paper is smooth and cold.
Specific checks for this banknote
- Measure it. This banknote measures 120 × 80 mm. Photographic copies almost always lose two or three millimeters, so a ruler can resolve many doubts in ten seconds.
- Check the exact motif. On the obverse: a bust in a central oval between allegorical figures. On the reverse: the Arco de Santa María and the Cathedral of Burgos.
- Look at the top right corner of the obverse. Some copies bear an embossed seal (raised, without ink): this is the revalidation made by the Second Republic in 1931 to allow them to continue circulating. It can be felt with your finger and is sometimes visible to the naked eye. This is not a defect: with or without the seal, these are two different catalog variants (the "a" and "b" of the Pick).
- Keep the mintage in mind. 10,000,000 copies were printed, and since it was in use for years, quite a few survive. That is why what matters most is the condition of each individual piece.
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, with no obligation
WhatsApp +34 644 54 98 79
info@iberoamericanabanknotes.com
What makes it worth more or less
Preservation rules: those that appear clean, without heavy folds or repairs, are the ones that are truly of interest. The variant (with or without the embossed seal) also matters.
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 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 actions are irreversible. I explain this in detail in my 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 respond 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 the same day I receive and verify the item; if it does not match the photos, I will return it to you at my expense.
I am Fran, from Iberoamericana Banknotes, an authorized PMG dealer. I can also value it solely for insurance or inheritance purposes without buying it, and I can manage the PMG grading or consignment for you.
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 at my shop in Gijón, at Calle Cabrales 77, by appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What appears on the 1907 50 pesetas banknote?
On the obverse, a bust in a central oval between allegorical figures. On the reverse, the Arco de Santa María and the Cathedral of Burgos.
How many were printed?
10,000,000 copies were printed, and since it was in use for years, quite a few survive. That is why what matters most is the condition of each individual piece.
How do I know if mine is 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 any 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 50 pesetas banknote worth?
It depends entirely on the specimen: preservation, margins, and any repairs change the price drastically. I do not give figures blindly because it would not be honest. With photos, I will 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 the value is repairs.
What is the embossed seal that mine has?
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 from this issue
- 25 pesetas banknote of 1907 — the Alhambra
- 100 pesetas banknote of 1907 — the Cathedral of Seville
- 500 pesetas banknote of 1907 (July issue) — the Alcázar of Segovia
- 1000 pesetas banknote of 1907 (July issue) — the Royal Palace
Other 50 pesetas banknotes from the Banco de España
If you aren't sure which one you have, 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 — trade allegories
- 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 1906 — allegory with caduceus
- 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 Banco de España banknotes. If you have more pesetas stored at home, see which peseta banknotes and coins have value.
Send me a photo of the obverse and one of the reverse, and I'll tell you today what you have.
WhatsApp +34 644 54 98 79