1 cordoba 1968

Common. This regular issue 1 córdoba circulated widely in Nicaragua and remains readily available in the modern collectible market. eBay sales data shows consistent trading activity with UNC specimens typically selling in the $2.80–$7.50 range (excluding premium graded examples), and even the noted 2019 PMG 67 at $31.01 represents a professionally certified premium rather than a genuinely scarce note. Print runs for this denomination were substantial, and the note was not recalled or subject to limited distribution.

Issued on May 25, 1968, this note commemorates both the Central Bank of Nicaragua's modern institutional presence (represented by its contemporary headquarters building) and the nation's colonial heritage through the portrait of Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, who established the first Spanish settlements in Nicaragua in the early 16th century. The formal governmental authorizations printed on the obverse—including references to the Executive Decree of May 28, 1968—reflect the Cold War-era Central American political context in which this currency was introduced.

The obverse features a modernist architectural vignette of the Banco Central de Nicaragua building—a horizontal rectangular multi-story office structure with emphasis on clean lines and contemporary 1960s design—centered within an ornate oval frame with elaborate scrollwork. The reverse displays a classical numismatic portrait of Francisco Hernández de Córdoba (1475-1526), the Spanish conquistador who founded Granada and other settlements in Nicaragua, rendered in fine engraved detail with cross-hatching technique and wearing 16th-century formal attire with a distinctive ruffled collar. The overall design employs a restrained two-color palette (blue primary with black accents on cream/white background) enhanced with decorative baroque-revival floral and geometric elements in the borders. Large denominational numerals '1' appear in the corners of both sides. Serial numbers in Series B format are positioned on the left and right of the obverse.

FRONT: 'BANCO CENTRAL DE NICARAGUA' (Central Bank of Nicaragua) / 'SERIE B' (Series B) / 'VALE POR UN CORDOBA' (Worth One Córdoba) / 'RESOLUCION DEL CONSEJO DIRECTIVO DEL BANCO CENTRAL DE NICARAGUA DE 16 DE MAYO DE 1968' (Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Nicaragua of May 16, 1968) / 'DECRETO EJECUTIVO NO. 3B-AL DE 28 DE MAYO DE 1968' (Executive Decree No. 3B-AL of May 28, 1968) / 'EL PRESIDENTE DE LA REPUBLICA' (The President of the Republic) / 'EL PRESIDENTE DEL BANCO CENTRAL DE NICARAGUA' (The President of the Central Bank of Nicaragua) / 'EL GERENTE DEL BANCO CENTRAL DE NICARAGUA' (The Manager of the Central Bank of Nicaragua) / 'THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED' (printer identification). BACK: 'BANCO CENTRAL DE NICARAGUA' (Central Bank of Nicaragua) / 'FRANCISCO HERNANDEZ DE CORDOBA' (Francisco Hernández de Córdoba) / 'UN CORDOBA' (One Córdoba) / 'THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED' (printer identification).

Intaglio engraving (steel plate line engraving) executed by Thomas de la Rue & Company, Limited of London, evidenced by the fine detail, precise line work, and characteristic cross-hatching visible in the portrait and architectural vignette. The ornate geometric and floral borders display the intricate micro-line patterns typical of security engraving used to deter counterfeiting.

This specimen is identified as Pick-115a (the documented variant for this Pick number), printed by Thomas de la Rue & Company, Limited (TDLR). The note exhibits three signatures as noted in reference catalogs. The serial number observed is 'SERIE B' format (33833332). No overprints or significant varieties are evident in this example. Earlier versions of the 1 córdoba (Pick-107) were printed by the American Bank Note Company (ABNC), making the TDLR printing a distinguishing characteristic of this 1968 issue.