1 peso oro 1980

Common. The eBay market data provided shows multiple sales across various condition grades over more than a decade, with UNC examples selling for approximately $18 in 2023 and catalogue values (2019) listing UNC at $4.50. The consistent presence of examples at modest price points, combined with this being a regular issue from a major banknote printer with no indication of a restricted print run or short series, establishes this as a commonly encountered note in the collector market.

Issued during the early 1980s by the Banco Central de la República Dominicana, this note commemorates Juan Pablo Duarte y Díez (1813-1876), the founding father of Dominican independence, whose formal portrait appears prominently on the obverse. The reverse's depiction of the Río Haina sugar refinery reflects the centrality of sugar production to the Dominican Republic's economy and export base throughout the 20th century, a legacy dating back to colonial times.

The obverse features a three-quarter length portrait of Juan Pablo Duarte positioned on the right side, rendered in fine engraving with meticulous attention to his formal 19th-century attire including bow tie and jacket. The left side displays ornamental floral and vine decorative elements in pink and purple tones against a pale yellow-green background. Denomination numerals '1' in ornamental circles anchor all four corners. The center-right contains the orange bank seal bearing the Dominican national emblem. The reverse depicts the Río Haina sugar processing facility as a detailed industrial landscape scene with multiple factory buildings, smokestacks, waterfront docks with moored vessels, and tropical palm vegetation rendered in sepia and black tones. Matching denomination circles occupy all four corners, with the national emblem centered at the top and decorative guilloche border patterns framing the entire composition.

FRONT: 'Banco Central de la República Dominicana' (Central Bank of the Dominican Republic); 'Este billete tiene fuerza liberatoria para el pago de todas las obligaciones públicas o privadas' (This banknote has legal tender force for the payment of all public or private obligations); 'Un Peso Oro' (One Gold Peso); 'Uno' (One); 'Duarte' (identifying the portrait subject); 'Gobernador del Banco Central' (Governor of the Central Bank); 'Secretario de Estado de Finanzas' (Secretary of State of Finance); Serial number 'B000100Q'. BACK: 'Banco Central de la República Dominicana' (Central Bank of the Dominican Republic); 'Un Peso Oro' (One Gold Peso); 'Industria Azucarera' (Sugar Industry); 'Serie 1980' (Series 1980); 'Thomas de la Rue & Company, Limited' (printer identification).

Intaglio engraving (recess printing) by Thomas de la Rue & Company, Limited, London, as identified on the reverse. This method produced the characteristic fine line work, intricate guilloche patterns, and precise color registration visible throughout. Multiple color printing layers combine black, brown, and security inks to create the pale yellow-green and sepia tones observed. The detailed portraiture and industrial scene engraving, along with the security features evident in the fine line work and decorative patterns, are consistent with professional security printing standards of the period.

This note is identified as Pick P-117a, the 'a' variant designation indicating it is distinct from the earlier P-116 issue (printed by American Bank Note Company). The serial number format 'B000100Q' is consistent with the 1980 series. No specific overprints, signature varieties, or other distinguishing characteristics are evident from the visual analysis that would identify alternate varieties within the P-117a designation for this particular example.