1875 500-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, 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 of the 19th-century series commissioned from two London engraving houses.
Here you will find who or what appears on it, how to distinguish it from those that resemble 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 obverse scene represents
This banknote does not carry a historical portrait: the obverse features 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 identify it: the reverse leaves a large empty central space, expressly intended for stamping the domiciliation seals of the corresponding branch. If your specimen bears a seal in that area, it is not a defect or tampering: it is exactly what it was designed for.
Banknote fact sheet
| Face value | 500 pesetas |
|---|---|
| Banknote date | January 1, 1875 |
| Pick Catalog | P-9 |
| Edifil Catalog | 267 |
| Printer | Bradbury Wilkinson & Co. and J. H. Sanders, London |
| Mintage | 80,000 copies |
| Dimensions | 193 × 114 mm |
| Put into circulation | — |
| Obverse | Female allegorical portraits with geometric designs, printed in black and gray on a blue and red background |
| Reverse | Blue printing with female allegorical heads; the center was left free for branch domiciliation 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 period circulate: collector's sheets from the seventies and eighties, catalog facsimiles, and press reprints.
The 1875 issue is the only one commissioned from London: it was engraved by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co. and J. H. Sanders, two top-tier British houses. This gives these banknotes a recognizable appearance:
- English stroke. The allegorical engraving is finer and denser than that of banknotes made in Madrid. With a magnifying glass, you can see a continuous line, never dots.
- Combination of techniques: intaglio, typography, and lithography in the same piece, with very clean color overlapping.
- Relief to the touch in the intaglio areas.
- Watermark formed in the paper pulp, visible against 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 printing with female allegorical heads; the center was left free for branch domiciliation seals.
- Look at the three signatures. On this banknote, they correspond to Manuel Cantero de San Vicente, Teodoro Rubio Castellanos, and Manuel Díaz Moreno de Vivar. A signature that does not fit points to another issue or a reproduction.
- Keep the mintage in mind. 80,000 copies 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 just the same: I gain nothing by making you believe otherwise.
Original or facsimile? I will tell you today, no obligation
WhatsApp +34 644 54 98 79
info@iberoamericanabanknotes.com
What makes it worth more or less
On this banknote, as with the entire 19th-century series, conservation rules, followed closely by repairs: a washed, ironed specimen with taped tears or trimmed margins loses a great deal, even if it "looks better."
I do not publish price ranges, and I will explain why: the value depends entirely on the specific specimen, and that does not fit into a table. A generic internet figure 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, 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 them from you
You send me photos via WhatsApp —obverse, reverse, a detail of the serial number, 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 the shipping, and I will transfer the money 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 just for insurance or inheritance purposes, without selling anything, and I can manage the PMG grading or consignment for you.
You do not 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 meet at my store in Gijon, on Calle Cabrales 77, by appointment.
Frequently asked questions
What appears on the 1875 500 pesetas banknote?
It does not feature any historical figures. On the obverse — female allegorical portraits with geometric designs, printed in black and gray on a blue and red background. On the reverse — blue printing with female allegorical heads; the center was left free for branch domiciliation seals.
How many were printed?
The mintage was 80,000 copies. Beware of a common confusion: a high mintage in the 19th century does not mean that many remain today. These banknotes were systematically withdrawn and destroyed, and what counts 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 on an original, dot pattern 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 1875 500 pesetas banknote worth?
It depends entirely on the specimen: conservation, margins, and any repairs move the price drastically. I do not give numbers blindly 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, as long as it is original and not restored. For banknotes of this period, honest circulation is not a problem; what really penalizes value is repairs.
The other banknotes from this issue
- 25 pesetas banknote 1875 — the farm girl and Mercury
- 50 pesetas banknote 1875 — the allegories of commerce
- 100 pesetas banknote 1875 — Athena
- 1000 pesetas banknote 1875 — the allegorical medallions
Other 500 pesetas banknotes from the Banco de España
If you are not quite sure which one is yours, compare it with these: they are all 500 pesetas but from different issues.
- 500 pesetas banknote 1874 — Goya
- 500 pesetas banknote 1876 — Lope de Vega
- 500 pesetas banknote 1878 — Pablo de Céspedes
- 500 pesetas banknote 1880 — Claudio Coello
- 500 pesetas banknote 1884 (January issue) — Mendizábal
- 500 pesetas banknote 1884 (July issue) — Floridablanca
- 500 pesetas banknote 1886 — Goya
- 500 pesetas banknote 1903 — Mercury
- 500 pesetas banknote 1907 (January issue) — "the medallion"
- 500 pesetas banknote 1907 (July issue) — the Alcázar of Segovia
- 500 pesetas banknote 1927 — Isabella the Catholic
- 500 pesetas banknote 1928 — Cardinal Cisneros
- 500 pesetas banknote 1931 — Juan Sebastián Elcano
- 500 pesetas banknote 1935 — Hernán Cortés
- 500 pesetas banknote 1936 (Burgos) — the Cathedral of Salamanca
- 500 pesetas banknote 1938 (Burgos) — the Cathedral of Santiago
- 500 pesetas banknote 1940 (January issue) — Juan de Austria
- 500 pesetas banknote 1940 (October issue) — The Burial of the Count of Orgaz
- 500 pesetas banknote 1946 — Francisco de Vitoria
- 500 pesetas banknote 1951 — Mariano Benlliure
- 500 pesetas banknote 1971 — Jacinto Verdaguer
General guide: selling antique Banco de España banknotes. And if more pesetas have appeared in the same drawer, I will tell you 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