1884 500-peseta banknote (July issue): what it is and what to do if you have one

Anverso del billete de 500 pesetas del Banco de España del 1 de julio de 1884, Floridablanca

If you have in front of you a banknote on which it reads EL BANCO DE ESPAÑA, 500 PESETAS, and the date July 1, 1884, this is what you have: the banknote cataloged as Pick-32 and Edifil 290.

Obverse of the 500 pesetas banknote of the Banco de España from July 1, 1884, Floridablanca Reverse of the 500 pesetas banknote of the Banco de España from July 1, 1884
Obverse and reverse of the 500 pesetas banknote from July 1, 1884. Image from the Banknote Mate (Catamates) catalog, used with permission.

It is part of the July 1, 1884 issue: authorized on July 7, 1884, to circulate alongside the January issue due to an increase in the demand for banknotes, and dedicated entirely to Ministers of Finance and administrative reformers.

Here you have 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 won't find prices here: I explain why below.

The Count of Floridablanca: who is the face on this banknote

José Moñino y Redondo, Count of Floridablanca (Murcia, 1728 - Seville, 1808), was Secretary of State to Charles III and the central figure of the Spanish enlightened reformism. He created the National Bank of San Carlos—the direct predecessor to the Bank of Spain—, promoted the Imperial Canal of Aragon, and ordered the first modern census of the country.

The banknote has a detail that makes it unmistakable and which is worth remembering if you are identifying yours: to the left of the portrait appears a young girl with a dog in her arms. It is one of the most recognizable scenes in all of 19th-century Spanish numismatics.

Banknote Profile

Face value 500 pesetas
Date of issue July 1, 1884
Pick Catalog P-32
Edifil Catalog 290
Printer Banco de España workshop, Madrid
Mintage 300,000 copies
Dimensions 147 × 100 mm
Put into circulation January 1898
Obverse A young girl with a dog in her arms to the left and the bust of José Moñino y Redondo, Count of Floridablanca, black print on a light green background
Reverse Light violet print with geometric designs and a crown with "500 PESETAS"
Signatures Francisco de Cárdenas y Espejo, Benito Fariña Cisneros, and Fernando Pérez Casariego

How to tell if yours is original

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

This banknote was engraved and printed at the Banco de España workshop in Madrid, using intaglio technique on linen paper. This leaves specific marks that a modern reproduction does not have:

  • Raised ink. Pass your fingertip over the portrait, the numbers, and the letters of the title: on an original, you can feel the raised texture of the ink. An offset-printed facsimile is completely flat.
  • Engraved line, not screening. With a ten-power magnifying glass, the original portrait is rendered in fine, continuous lines. If you see a grid of dots, it is a modern print.
  • Watermark in the paper pulp. When held up to the light, it should appear as if formed within the paper, not printed on top.
  • Cotton linen paper, rough and crisp when shaken. Modern coated paper is smooth and cold.

Specific checks for this banknote

  • Measure it. This banknote measures 147 × 100 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 — a young girl with a dog in her arms to the left and the bust of José Moñino y Redondo, Count of Floridablanca, black print on a light green background. On the reverse — light violet print with geometric designs and a crown with "500 PESETAS."
  • Look at the three signatures. On this banknote, they correspond to Francisco de Cárdenas y Espejo, Benito Fariña Cisneros, and Fernando Pérez Casariego. A signature that does not match points to another issue or a reproduction.
  • Keep the mintage in mind. 300,000 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 regardless: I gain nothing by making you believe otherwise.

Original or facsimile? I will tell you today, with 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, preservation is key, followed closely by repairs: a washed, pressed specimen with taped tears or trimmed margins loses a great deal of value, 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 figure from the internet only serves to cause 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 scotch 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 it from you

You send me photos via WhatsApp —obverse, reverse, a detail of the numbering, 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 will transfer the funds 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 shipping expense.

I am Fran, from Iberoamericana Banknotes, an authorized PMG dealer. I can also appraise it for you for insurance or inheritance purposes, without you selling anything, 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 your home to see it at no cost, or we can look at it calmly in my shop in Gijón, at Calle Cabrales 77, by appointment.

Frequently asked questions

Who is featured on the 1884 500 pesetas banknote?
The Count of Floridablanca. On the obverse — a young girl with a dog in her arms to the left and the bust of José Moñino y Redondo, Count of Floridablanca, black print on a light green background.

How many were printed?
The mintage was 300,000 copies. Beware of a common misconception: 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 fastest way: look at the portrait with a magnifying glass (continuous engraved line in an original, grid of dots in 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 1884 500 pesetas banknote worth?
It depends entirely on the specimen: preservation, margins, and any repairs move 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 it even if it is circulated or has defects?
Yes, as long as it is original and not restored. For banknotes from this era, honest circulation is not a problem; what truly penalizes value is a repair.

The other banknotes from this issue

Other 500 pesetas banknotes from the Banco de España

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

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 another of the reverse and I will tell you today what you have.
WhatsApp +34 644 54 98 79

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Yo cobro un porcentaje de la venta, así que cuanto mejor la vendo, más ganas tú. La contrapartida es el tiempo: encontrar al comprador que más paga lleva más que una compra directa. Por eso es ideal si no tienes prisa por vender.

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