2 gourdes 1904
Market Prices
About This Note
This is a Haiti 2 Gourdes note from 1904 commemorating the centennial of Haitian independence, printed by the American Bank Note Company. The front features two prominent military portraits flanking a tropical fortification scene with cannons and palm trees, while the reverse displays ornate pink decorative elements. The note exhibits moderate circulation wear consistent with its F (Fine) condition grade, with visible creasing, age-related discoloration, and foxing throughout.
Common. The eBay market data provided shows multiple sales in the F condition grade at $295 USD, but this represents a single outlier among many lower-priced sales. The majority of recorded sales are in the $4–$100 range, with UNC examples frequently selling for under $30, indicating strong supply and consistent collector interest. This is a regular issue from a major commemorative series produced by a major security printer without known print run restrictions. The 2 Gourdes denomination from this series was widely distributed and remains readily available to collectors.
Issued under the law of February 27, 1904, this note commemorates Haiti's 100 years of independence from France (1804-1904). The imagery reflects Haiti's revolutionary military heritage: the left portrait depicts Jean-Jacques Dessalines (Haiti's first military leader and independence founder), while the right shows Nord Alexis (Haiti's president at the time). The central vignette with fortifications and cannons symbolizes the military struggle for Haitian independence and the nation's defense of its sovereignty.
The obverse displays a classical allegorical design celebrating Haitian independence. The left portrait bust wears a winged military helmet, representing Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the revolution's military commander and first head of state. The right portrait shows Nord Alexis, Haiti's sitting president in 1904, in full military dress uniform with insignia. Between them is an elaborate tropical scene depicting a coastal fortification with multiple cannons, military equipment, palm trees, and naval vessels in the background—symbolizing Haiti's successful defense of its revolutionary gains. The design is framed by an ornate geometric border with corner flourishes. The reverse features a restrained ornamental design in pink/rose tones, with large decorative '3' numerals flanking a central cartouche containing the anti-counterfeiting warning. The back's scrollwork and shell-motif border contrasts sharply with the front's complex historical narrative.
FRONT: 'Liberté Égalité Fraternité' (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity) — the French revolutionary motto adopted by Haiti; 'République d'Haiti' (Republic of Haiti); 'Ce billet émis par l'État d'Haiti en vertu de la Loi du 27 Février 1904 à cours légal dans la République pour la valeur de Deux Gourdes' (This note issued by the State of Haiti by virtue of the law of February 27, 1904, legal tender in the Republic for the value of Two Gourdes); 'Et son remboursement est garanti par les impôts créés par la Loi du 11 Août 1903, sur le retrait du papier-monnaie' (And its reimbursement is guaranteed by the taxes created by the law of August 11, 1903, on the withdrawal of paper money); Signature blocks for 'Le Délégué des Finances' (Finance Delegate), 'Le Membre de la Chambre des Communes' (Member of Chamber of Commons), and 'Le Membre de la Commission d'Émission' (Member of Emission Commission); 'American Bank Note Co. New York' (printer); Serial number '51593'; '1804' and 'Nord Alexis' identifying the right portrait. BACK: 'République d'Haiti' (Republic of Haiti); 'Ceux qui auront contrefait ou falsifié les billets de cette émission et ceux qui auront fait usage de ces billets contrefaits ou falsifiés seront punis conformément à la Loi' (Those who shall have counterfeited or falsified the notes of this emission and those who shall have made use of these counterfeit or falsified notes shall be punished in accordance with the law).
Engraved intaglio printing by the American Bank Note Company of New York, as indicated on the note itself. The fine line work, detailed portrait engraving, complex geometric border patterns, and the precision of the multicolor printing (black on green-gray for the obverse, red serial numbers, and rose/pink for the reverse) are all characteristic of high-security bank note production by this premier security printer. The multiple layers of color and the intricate decorative elements required the use of separate printing plates for each color pass.
This note is identified as series BB-OO with serial number 51593 (visible in red). The Pick catalog designates this as P-121. The series designation BB-OO and higher serial numbers indicate this specimen comes from a later printing segment of the 1904 issue. No major varieties (such as overprints, significant signature variants, or date changes) are evident from the visual analysis, suggesting this is a standard example of the regular 1904 centennial issue.
