1 colon 1920
Market Prices
About This Note
This is a 1920 El Salvador 1 Colón note issued by Banco Salvadoreño, printed by the American Bank Note Company. The obverse features a seated allegorical female figure (representing Liberty or similar classical virtue) with ornate multicolored underprint in black, red, and tan tones, while the reverse displays a classical profile portrait of Christopher Columbus in red/pink coloring. The note exhibits Fair condition with heavy creasing, fold marks, multiple horizontal creases across the middle section, aged tan paper, and clear evidence of significant circulation—making it a genuinely used historical piece from El Salvador's early 20th-century banking era.
Common. The eBay market data provided shows circulated examples trading in the $22.95–$35.00 range, with even worn/circulated pieces valued under $40. This indicates strong supply and consistent demand at low price points. The Fair condition grade typically represents the lower end of collectible quality, and circulation examples of this denomination from this era appear regularly in the market. While early 20th-century Central American banknotes have collector interest, this particular note does not show evidence of scarcity based on pricing patterns.
This note was issued on June 1, 1920, during a period when El Salvador was establishing modern banking infrastructure under the Banco Salvadoreño. The allegorical female figure and classical architectural motifs on the obverse reflect the early 20th-century Western banking tradition of representing national prosperity and stability through classical symbolism. The reverse's portrait of Christopher Columbus connects El Salvador to the broader Hispanic colonial heritage and the discovery narrative that framed Central American identity during this period.
The obverse features a classical seated female allegorical figure (Liberty or Prosperity) positioned centrally, draped in classical attire and accompanied by symbolic objects including a sheaf of grain and a wheel, representing agricultural wealth and industrial progress. She is framed by an ornate border with elaborate scrollwork and floral designs in all four corners, with shield-shaped frames containing denomination numerals. The reverse displays a classical profile portrait of Christopher Columbus facing left, positioned within an elegant oval medallion and surrounded by symmetrical decorative borders featuring elaborate floral and architectural-style scrollwork. Both sides employ intricate fine-line engraving with detailed cross-hatching and geometric patterns characteristic of high-security banknote design.
FRONT: 'EL BANCO SALVADOREÑO' (The Salvadoran Bank) / 'PAGARÁ A LA VISTA AL PORTADOR' (Will pay to bearer on sight) / 'SERIE A' (Series A) / 'No 441505' (Serial number 441505, repeated) / 'UN COLON' (One Colon) / 'SAN SALVADOR' (San Salvador) / 'EN MONEDA ACUÑADA DE ORO' (In minted gold currency) / '1º DE JUNIO DE 1920' (1st of June 1920) / 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY' (American Bank Note Company). BACK: 'TOMALA RAZON' (Take note / Be advised) / 'EL BANCO SALVADOREÑO DE AHORR[OS]' (The Salvadoran Bank of Savings, text cut off) / 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY' (American Bank Note Company).
Intaglio engraving (line engraving) with multiple color printing. The note was produced by the American Bank Note Company (ABNC), one of the world's premier security printers. The obverse exhibits black on multicolored underprint with red and tan tones, while the reverse is printed in dominant red/pink with cream/tan accents. The intricate fine-line engraving, complex geometric border patterns, detailed cross-hatching, and multiple decorative frames all confirm the use of traditional intaglio process, which was the standard security printing method for banknotes during this era.
This example is SERIE A (Series A) with serial number 441505. The PMG population report indicates one cataloged variant (P-S211cts) for this Pick number. The 1920 date and Series A designation are consistent with the regular issue. No evidence of overprints, signatures, or other variety markers beyond the standard Series A production run is visible in the visual analysis. The note appears to be a standard production example from the June 1, 1920 issue.
