20 sucres 1980 specimen

Common. Specimen notes from this long-running series (1961–1983) are not scarce; they were produced in standard quantities for banking and reference purposes. The eBay market data provided shows UNC examples of the regular issue selling for $35 (2019 catalog value), indicating steady collector demand at modest prices typical of common notes. Specimen notes often trade at slight premiums to regular issues but remain affordable and readily available to collectors.

The 20 sucres note was issued during a period of economic transition in Ecuador, with this 1980 specimen representing the Central Bank's commitment to modernizing currency design and security features during the late 20th century. The prominent depiction of the Compañía de Jesús church underscores Ecuador's rich colonial and religious heritage, while the national coat of arms on the reverse reflects the country's sovereignty and independence. Specimen notes like this were created for training, reference, and archival purposes, and were deliberately marked as non-negotiable to prevent accidental circulation.

The obverse features a central vignette of the Compañía de Jesús church (also known as La Compañía de Jesús) in Quito, one of Ecuador's most architecturally significant colonial-era churches, rendered in fine detail with its distinctive domed roof, columns, and ornamental façade. The denomination '20' appears in all four corners within decorative oval frames, and the overall color scheme is pink and gray with black line work and cream/beige underprinting, providing excellent contrast and security. The reverse displays the Ecuadorian national coat of arms featuring a condor with spread wings above a shield containing a landscape vignette of mountains and natural scenery, rendered primarily in brown and tan tones. Both sides are symmetrically balanced with corner ornaments and maintain the formal, dignified aesthetic characteristic of Thomas de la Rue's late-20th-century security printing.

FRONT: 'BANCO CENTRAL DEL ECUADOR' (Central Bank of Ecuador); 'SOCIEDAD ANONIMA' (Anonymous Society/Corporation); 'VEINTE SUCRES' (Twenty Sucres); 'SERIE LE' (Series LE); '00000000' (serial number, specimen marking); 'Mayo 24 de 1980' (May 24, 1980); 'COMPAÑIA DE JESUS-QUITO' (Jesuit Company–Quito); 'MUESTRA SIN VALOR' (Specimen without value); 'CERENTE GENERAL' (General Manager); 'SUPERINTENDENTE DE BANCOS' (Superintendent of Banks); 'THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED, LONDON.' (printer attribution). BACK: 'BANCO CENTRAL DEL ECUADOR' (Central Bank of Ecuador); 'VEINTE SUCRES' (Twenty Sucres); '20' (denomination numeral); 'MUESTRA SIN VALOR' (Specimen without value); 'THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED, LONDON.' (printer attribution).

This note was produced using intaglio/engraving printing by Thomas de la Rue & Company, Limited, of London, the world's leading security printer of the era. The fine line detail visible in the church architecture, coat of arms, and background patterns is consistent with traditional steel-plate engraving. The multicolored underprinting (pink, gray, brown, tan) indicates the use of multiple printing runs with coordinated color registration. The red diagonal 'MUESTRA SIN VALOR' overprint was likely applied as a final security step to clearly identify the note as a non-circulating specimen.

This is a specimen variant of Pick P-115bs, as indicated by the catalog designation 'bs' (specimen). The specific identifying features are: (1) the red diagonal 'MUESTRA SIN VALOR' overprint; (2) the specimen serial number 00000000; (3) the date 'Mayo 24 de 1980' on the obverse. The note carries the 'SERIE LE' designation. Specimen notes from this series may show minor variations in overprint placement and darkness, but the core design and security features remain consistent with the regular P-115 issue dated 1961–1983.