25 centimes 1875

Common. The eBay transaction history shows consistent sales in the $20–$73 range across multiple condition grades (VG to VF) spanning 2010–2021, with catalog values peaking at $60 in EF condition as of 2016. These moderate prices and multiple documented sales indicate healthy collector availability. While early Haitian notes from 1875 are not everyday finds, this Pick number does not appear in small-print-run categories and was likely issued in quantities sufficient to support a common classification. UNC examples command premium prices but are not exceptionally scarce.

This 1875 note was issued during the presidency of Michel Domingue (1874-1876), a transitional period in post-independence Haiti as the nation sought to establish financial stability through its newly chartered Banque Nationale d'Haiti. The military imagery—cannons, equipment, and the presidential portrait in uniform—reflects Haiti's recent military history and the government's emphasis on state authority and strength. The denomination and redemption language ('payable on demand in specie at Port-au-Prince') reveal the gold-standard-era currency practices and the bank's attempts to instill confidence in Haiti's monetary system during a fragile economic period.

The obverse features President Michel Domingue, depicted as a bearded gentleman in full military dress uniform with decorative buttons and official insignia, shown in left-facing profile within an ornate oval frame. To the right is a detailed colonial military vignette incorporating palm trees, artillery cannons, and military equipment—symbolizing Haiti's military heritage and governmental authority. The reverse displays a symmetrical, highly decorative design with two large oval frames filled with intricate repeating geometric dot and dash patterns, flanking a central circular denomination cartouche. The entire design is executed in fine-line engraving with elaborate corner ornaments, scalloped borders, and floral/geometric embellishments typical of high-security currency of the 1870s era. The pink/salmon field with black obverse text and red reverse printing creates strong visual contrast and aesthetic appeal.

FRONT: 'LA BANQUE NATIONALE D'HAITI' (The National Bank of Haiti) / 'PAYERA' (Will Pay) / 'VINGT CINQ CENTIMES' (Twenty-Five Centimes) / 'à vue en Espèce' (on demand in specie) / 'à la Banque Principale' (at the Principal Bank) / 'à Port au Prince' (at Port-au-Prince) / 'et sommes pas moins de Cinq Piastres' (and amounts not less than Five Piastres) / 'SEPTEMBRE 1875' (September 1875) / Serial number: '78369' / Signature lines: 'LE PRÉSIDENT' (The President), 'Le Caissier Principal' (The Principal Cashier), 'L'Agent du Gouvernement' (The Government Agent) / 'American Bank Note Co. New York' / BACK: 'VINGT CINQ' (Twenty-Five) / '25' / 'CENTIMES' (Centimes) / 'American Bank Note Co. N.Y.'

This note was produced using steel-plate engraving and intaglio printing, the security printing standard of the era. The American Bank Note Company of New York—one of the world's premier currency printers—executed the design with multiple passes: black intaglio for the portrait, text, and primary design elements on the obverse, and red intaglio for the reverse design, printed over a pink/salmon colored underprint. The fine-line work, intricate repeating patterns, and precision of the oval frames and decorative borders are characteristic of ABNC's high-security engraving techniques, designed to prevent counterfeiting through the complexity of reproduction.

Pick number P-68 (standard issue). PMG's population report indicates the existence of variant P-68p (likely a proof or presentation variant), but the current note conforms to the base P-68 designation. This particular example carries serial number 78369 and is dated September 1875, consistent with the first and only issue of this denomination and design by the Banque Nationale d'Haiti. No date or signature varieties are documented for P-68; this note represents the standard variety of the 25 Centimes 1875 issue.