1 colon 1966

Common. This note is a regular issue (not commemorative or emergency currency) with substantial print runs across multiple dates (1963 and 1966 issues). The eBay market data demonstrates consistent circulation in the collector market with examples in Fine condition typically selling for $8-12 and UNC specimens for approximately $35 based on 2019 catalog values. No evidence of scarcity, recall, or limited distribution exists. The availability of multiple examples across various grades and the reasonable pricing indicate this is a readily available note for collectors of Central American currency.

Issued on August 23, 1966, this banknote represents El Salvador's mid-20th century monetary system under the Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador. The obverse celebrates the institution's own headquarters building in San Salvador—a symbol of the nation's financial stability and modernization during this period. The reverse's depiction of Christopher Columbus connects El Salvador to the broader narrative of Spanish colonial history and the Age of Exploration that shaped Central American heritage.

The obverse features a detailed architectural illustration of the Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador's modernist building as the central focal point, surrounded by an ornate border of repeating circular and baroque-style frames rendered in black on a beige and pink multicolored underprint. The denomination '1' appears in the corners with the series designation 'RH' and serial number 794815 9 positioned for identification. The reverse displays a formal portrait of Christopher Columbus in period dress with characteristic curled hair within an oval engraved frame, centered on a red-orange background with elaborate scrollwork and floral ornamental designs. Both sides employ classical banking security design elements including decorative frames, fine line engraving, and symmetrical layouts typical of Thomas De La Rue's security printing output.

OBVERSE: 'EL BANCO CENTRAL DE RESERVA DE EL SALVADOR' (The Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador) | 'PAGARÁ AL PORTADOR' (Will pay to the bearer) | 'UN COLON' (One colon) | 'SERIE RH' (Series RH) | Serial number: 794815 9 | 'SAN SALVADOR' (San Salvador) | '23 DE AGOSTO DE 1966' (August 23, 1966) | 'EDIFICIO DEL BANCO CENTRAL DE RESERVA DE EL SALVADOR' (Building of the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador) | 'THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED' (printer attribution) | 'DIRECTOR' (Director) and 'PRESIDENTE' (President) signature lines. REVERSE: 'BANCO CENTRAL DE RESERVA DE EL SALVADOR' (Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador) | 'UN COLON' (One colon) | 'San Salvador, 9 de Octubre de 1967' (San Salvador, October 9, 1967) [Note: date discrepancy between obverse and reverse] | 'SUPERINTENDENCIA DE BANCOS E INSTITUCIONES FINANCIERAS' (Superintendency of Banks and Financial Institutions).

Intaglio (engraving and recess printing) executed by Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited of London. The visual analysis reveals characteristic fine line engraving throughout, elaborate ornamental border patterns with repeating designs, and detailed architectural and portrait rendering that are definitive of high-security intaglio production. The multicolored underprint on the obverse (beige, pink, black, yellow/gold accents) and the red-orange coloration on the reverse indicate multi-pass printing techniques combining intaglio with color registration typical of this security printer's mid-20th century standards.

This specific example is identified as the August 23, 1966 ('23 DE AGOSTO DE 1966') printing with series designation 'RH' and serial number 794815 9. The catalog data indicates the 1966 issue exists in at least two variant dates: January 25, 1966 ('25.1.1966') and August 23, 1966 ('23.8.1966'). The visual analysis also notes a date discrepancy between the obverse (August 23, 1966) and reverse (October 9, 1967), which may indicate different printing phases or a cataloging consideration worth noting. The 'RH' series prefix represents a specific production batch identifier from this printing.