1 cordoba 1927
Market Prices
About This Note
This 1927 Nicaragua 1 Córdoba note from the Banco Nacional de Nicaragua exemplifies early 20th-century Latin American currency design with classical aesthetics. The obverse features a finely engraved portrait of a woman in an oval frame, rendered in the neoclassical style typical of American Bank Note Company productions, while the reverse displays Nicaragua's national emblem—three volcanic peaks within a triangle—symbolizing the country's geographic identity. In Fair condition with visible circulation wear including creasing and foxing, this note retains good detail and represents an accessible example of this 1927 series for collectors of Central American currency.
Common. The catalog price data from realbanknotes.com indicates this note in Fair condition trades at approximately $225, placing it well within the typical price range for circulated early-20th-century Central American banknotes. The 1927 series represents a regular issue with substantial print quantities, and the Pick-62a variety appears in multiple graded examples within PMG's population reports. The availability of comparable sales data and the note's unremarkable serial number (212157) further support a common classification. Fair condition examples are readily available to collectors at moderate prices.
Issued in 1927 under the authority of the Banco Nacional de Nicaragua, this note was produced during a period of relative monetary stabilization in Nicaragua following early 20th-century political turbulence. The inscriptions reference the Law of March 20, 1912, which established the legal framework for the bank's currency emissions and their validity for customs and fiscal payments within the republic. The prominence of both English and Spanish text reflects Nicaragua's economic ties to American banking institutions and the dominant role of the American Bank Note Company in printing the nation's currency during this era.
The obverse features a classical female portrait, rendered in the refined engraving style characteristic of American Bank Note Company productions. The woman, depicted with flowing hair in an oval frame, serves as the central focal point against a beige/tan background with green and pink ornamental elements. Decorative floral and scrollwork emblems occupy all four corners, with serial number 212157 displayed in red in the upper corners. The reverse presents Nicaragua's national coat of arms—a prominent symbol featuring three volcanic peaks within a triangle, surrounded by water, enclosed in a circular frame. This emblem is centered against a monochromatic brown/maroon palette with ornate corner medallions containing the numeral '1' and elaborate decorative borders. Both sides employ bilingual text (English and Spanish), reflecting the international banking context of the era. The overall design employs a harmonious color scheme of greens, pinks, browns, and earth tones typical of currency from this period.
{"front":{"NATIONAL BANK OF NICARAGUA INCORPORATED":"National Bank of Nicaragua Incorporated","BANCO NACIONAL DE NICARAGUA":"National Bank of Nicaragua","SERIE DE 1927":"Series of 1927","VALE POR UN CORDOBA":"Valid for One Córdoba","Nº 212157":"Number 212157 (serial number)","ESTE BILLETE HA SIDO EMITIDO DE CONFORMIDAD CON LA LEY DE 20 DE MARZO DE 1912 Y SUS ENMIENDAS Y BAJO LAS CONDICIONES PARA PAGO DE LOS DERECHOS ADUANEROS Y FISCALES Y SERA CURSO LEGAL Y OBLIGATORIO PARA EL PAGO DE DEUDAS DENTRO DE LA REPUBLICA":"This note has been issued in conformity with the Law of March 20, 1912 and its amendments and under the conditions for payment of customs and fiscal rights and will be legal tender and obligatory for the payment of debts within the Republic.","DE CONFORMIDAD CON LA LEY DE 20 DE MARZO DE 1912 Y SUS ENMIENDAS Y BAJO LAS CONDICIONES PARA PAGO DE LOS DERECHOS ADUANEROS Y FISCALES PAGARÁ A LA VISTA AL PORTADOR DE ESTE BILLETE UN CORDOBA":"In conformity with the Law of March 20, 1912 and its amendments and under the conditions for payment of customs and fiscal rights will pay on sight to the bearer of this note one Córdoba.","EL PRESIDENTE DE LA REPUBLICA":"The President of the Republic","EL MINISTRO DE HACIENDA":"The Minister of Finance","PRESIDENTE":"President","AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY":"American Bank Note Company"},"back":{"REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA":"Republic of Nicaragua","BANCO NACIONAL DE NICARAGUA":"National Bank of Nicaragua","UN CORDOBA":"One Córdoba","NATIONAL BANK OF NICARAGUA INCORPORATED":"National Bank of Nicaragua Incorporated","AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY":"American Bank Note Company"}}
Intaglio engraving (recess printing), executed by the American Bank Note Company of New York. The note exhibits the characteristic fine line work, detailed portrait engraving, and ornate border designs produced through this security-focused method. The depth and precision of the engraved elements, including the portrait, national emblem, and decorative vignettes, are consistent with ABNC's premium banknote production standards of the 1920s. No evidence of alternative printing methods (such as lithography in the primary design elements) is visible in the observed images.
This note is catalogued as Pick-62a, the primary variety of the 1927 1 Córdoba issue. The visual analysis confirms key identifying features: the 1927 date notation ('SERIE DE 1927'), bilingual text with English bank name above Spanish designation, green-on-multicolor obverse design, and dark brown reverse with national arms. PMG records indicate a variant P-62b exists for this base Pick number, though the specific distinguishing features of that variant are not detailed in the available reference data. The observed serial number 212157 and absence of overprints or unusual signatures confirm this as a standard issue note without remarkable variety characteristics.
