1875 500-peseta banknote: what it is and what to do if you have one

If you are holding a banknote that reads EL BANCO DE ESPAÑA, 500 PESETAS and the date January 1, 1875, this is what you have: the banknote cataloged as Pick-9 and Edifil 267.

It is part of the January 1, 1875 issue: the so-called "English issue," the only one from the 19th-century series commissioned to two London engraving firms.

Here you will find who or what appears on it, how to distinguish it from those that look like it, how to check if yours is original, and what to do if you want to sell it. You will not find prices here: I explain why below.

What the scene on the obverse represents

This banknote does not feature a historical portrait: the obverse shows female allegorical portraits with geometric designs, in black and gray on a blue and red background.

It has a design peculiarity that is worth knowing, as it helps in identifying it: the reverse leaves a large, free central space, expressly intended for stamping the domicile seals of the corresponding branch. If your specimen has a seal in that area, it is not a defect or a tampering: it is exactly what it was designed for.

Banknote specification sheet

Face value	500 pesetas
Date of issue	January 1, 1875
Pick catalog	P-9
Edifil catalog	267
Printer	Bradbury Wilkinson & Co. and J. H. Sanders, London
Mintage	80,000 specimens
Dimensions	193 × 114 mm
Circulation	—
Obverse	Female allegorical portraits with geometric designs, printed in black and gray on a blue and red background
Reverse	Blue print with female allegorical heads; the center was left free for branch domicile seals
Signatures	Manuel Cantero de San Vicente, Teodoro Rubio Castellanos and Manuel Díaz Moreno de Vivar

How to know if yours is original

It is worth knowing this first and foremost, because far more reproductions than originals of Spanish banknotes from this era circulate: collector plates from the seventies and eighties, catalog facsimiles, and press reprints.

The 1875 issue is the only one commissioned to London: it was engraved by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co. and J. H. Sanders, two top-tier British firms. This gives these notes a recognizable look:

• English line style. The allegorical engraving is finer and denser than that of notes made in Madrid. Under a magnifying glass, you can see a continuous line, never dots.
• Combination of techniques: intaglio, typography, and lithography on the same piece, with very clean color overlapping.
• Tactile relief in intaglio areas.
• Watermark formed in the paper pulp, visible when held up to the light and not printed.

Specific checks for this banknote

• Measure it. This banknote measures 193 × 114 mm. Photographic copies almost always lose two or three millimeters, so a ruler resolves many doubts in ten seconds.
• Check the exact motif. On the obverse — female allegorical portraits with geometric designs, printed in black and gray on a blue and red background. On the reverse — blue print with female allegorical heads; the center was left free for branch domicile seals.
• Look at the three signatures. On this note, they correspond to Manuel Cantero de San Vicente, Teodoro Rubio Castellanos, and Manuel Díaz Moreno de Vivar. A signature that does not match points to another issue or a reproduction.
• Keep the mintage in mind. 80,000 specimens were printed, but that was over 140 years ago, and the vast majority were withdrawn and destroyed.

I will confirm it for you for free. If it turns out to be a reproduction, I will tell you anyway: I gain nothing by making you believe otherwise.

Original or facsimile? I'll tell you 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 washed, ironed specimen with glued tears or trimmed margins loses a great deal, even if it "looks better."

I do not publish price ranges, and here is why: the value depends entirely on the specific specimen, and that does not 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 tape anything with adhesive 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

You send me photos via WhatsApp —obverse, reverse, a detail of the numbering, and one against 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 shipping, and I transfer the funds on 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 just for insurance or inheritance purposes, without selling anything, and I can manage the grading by PMG or consignment for you.

You don't have to live nearby: I buy throughout Spain using this same system. And if you are from Asturias, I can come to your home without charging for the visit, or we can see it at my shop in Gijón, at Calle Cabrales 77, by appointment.

Frequently asked questions

What appears on the 500 pesetas banknote of 1875?
It does not feature any historical figure. On the obverse — female allegorical portraits with geometric designs, printed in black and gray on a blue and red background. On the reverse — blue print with female allegorical heads; the center was left free for branch domicile seals.

How many were printed?
The mintage was 80,000 specimens. Beware of a common misconception: a high mintage in the 19th century does not mean that many remain today. These notes were systematically withdrawn and destroyed, and what matters is how many survive, not how many were made.

How do I know if mine is original or a reproduction?
The quickest way: look at the portrait with a magnifying glass (continuous engraved line in an original, dot pattern in 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 1875 500 pesetas banknote worth?
It depends entirely on the specimen: condition, margins, and any repairs change the price drastically. I do not give out 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 them even if they are circulated or have defects?
Yes, provided that it is original and not restored. For banknotes of this era, honest circulation is not a problem; what truly penalizes the value is repairs.

The other banknotes in this issue

• 25 pesetas banknote of 1875 — the peasant girl and Mercury
• 50 pesetas banknote of 1875 — allegories of commerce
• 100 pesetas banknote of 1875 — Athena
• 1000 pesetas banknote of 1875 — allegorical medallions

Other 500 pesetas banknotes from the Banco de España

If you aren't quite sure which one is yours, compare it with these: they are all 500 pesetas but from different issues.

• 500 pesetas banknote of 1874 — Goya
• 500 pesetas banknote of 1876 — Lope de Vega
• 500 pesetas banknote of 1878 — Pablo de Céspedes
• 500 pesetas banknote of 1880 — Claudio Coello
• 500 pesetas banknote of 1884 (January issue) — Mendizábal
• 500 pesetas banknote of 1884 (July issue) — Floridablanca
• 500 pesetas banknote of 1886 — Goya
• 500 pesetas banknote of 1903 — Mercury
• 500 pesetas banknote of 1907 (January issue) — "the medallion"
• 500 pesetas banknote of 1907 (July issue) — the Alcázar of Segovia
• 500 pesetas banknote of 1927 — Isabella the Catholic
• 500 pesetas banknote of 1928 — Cardinal Cisneros

General guide: selling old 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