10 centavos 1912

Common. While this is an early issue from 1912, the eBay price tracking data shows comparable notes in F condition selling for $4.25 to $15 in recent years, with catalog values at $20 for F grade and $50 for EF grade. These modest market prices, combined with the straightforward issuance by a national bank and production by a major commercial printer (ABNC) with substantial printing capacity, indicate this note was produced in quantities sufficient to sustain a healthy collector market. The VF condition specimen observed here is neither particularly scarce nor exceptionally common.

Issued during a period of political and economic reorganization in Nicaragua under President Emiliano Chamorro's administration, this note represents the country's modernized currency system established by the 1912 monetary law. The allegorical Liberty figure and mountainous landscape reflect both Western banking traditions and Nicaragua's natural identity, while the bilingual English-Spanish inscriptions underscore the influence of American financial oversight during this era of Central American development.

The obverse features an allegorical female figure representing Liberty, depicted in classical style with a laurel wreath or similar decorative headpiece, positioned within an ornate oval frame on the left side of the note. The figure exemplifies the late 19th/early 20th-century banking aesthetic common to American Bank Note Company designs. The reverse showcases a triangular landscape vignette depicting mountainous volcanic terrain, likely representing Nicaragua's prominent geographical feature—either the Nicaraguan highlands or one of the country's volcanic peaks such as Momotombo or Concepción. Large ornate circular medallions containing the numeral '10' flank the central landscape on both sides. The entire design is framed by elaborate decorative borders featuring fine-line engraving, geometric patterns, and floral elements. Denomination numerals appear prominently in all four corners, with the green underprint on the reverse providing color security differentiation typical of the period.

{"front":{"english":["NATIONAL BANK OF NICARAGUA INCORPORATED","American Bank Note Co. New York"],"spanish":["BANCO NACIONAL DE NICARAGUA - National Bank of Nicaragua","DIEZ CENTAVOS DE CORDOBA - Ten Centavos of Cordoba","ESTE BILLETE HA SIDO EMITIDO DE CONFORMIDAD CON LA LEY DE 20 DE MARZO DE 1912 Y SUS ENMIENDAS. SERA RECIBIDO EN PAGO DE LOS DERECHOS ADUANEROS Y FISCALES Y SERA DE PUBLICO LEGAL Y OBLIGATORIO PARA EL PAGO DE DEUDAS DENTRO DE LA REPUBLICA. - This note has been issued in accordance with the Law of March 20, 1912 and its amendments. It will be received in payment of customs and fiscal rights and shall be of public legal and obligatory payment for debts within the Republic.","DE CONFORMIDAD CON LA LEY DE 20 DE MARZO DE 1912 Y SUS ENMIENDAS Y BAJO LAS CONDICIONES QUE ESTAS LEYES PRESCRIBEN EL NATIONAL BANK OF NICARAGUA INCORPORATED PAGARA A LA VISTA AL PORTADOR DE ESTE BILLETE DIEZ CENTAVOS DE CORDOBA. - In accordance with the Law of March 20, 1912 and its amendments and under the conditions that these laws prescribe the National Bank of Nicaragua Incorporated will pay on sight to the bearer of this note ten centavos of Cordoba.","EL PRESIDENTE DE LA REPUBLICA - The President of the Republic","MINISTRO DE HACIENDA - Minister of Finance","PRESIDENTE - President"]},"back":{"english":["NATIONAL BANK OF NICARAGUA","AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, NEW YORK."],"spanish":["BANCO NACIONAL DE NICARAGUA - National Bank of Nicaragua","10 CENTAVOS - 10 Centavos","DIEZ CENTAVOS DE CORDOBA - Ten Centavos of Cordoba"]}}

Steel engraving (intaglio printing) executed by the American Bank Note Company of New York, one of the premier security printers of the era. The note exhibits the characteristic fine line work, detailed cross-hatching, and intricate ornamental borders that distinguish ABNC's products. The color printing (black on white/cream obverse; green underprint on reverse) was achieved through multiple passes, with the security printers' distinctive expertise evident in the sharp portrait detail, fine landscape vignette work, and complex ornamental design elements.

This specimen bears the serial number prefix 'E' (visible as E011917) and carries signatures identified with Emiliano Chamorro as Presidente. The note corresponds to Pick catalog P-52f, with the 'f' designation indicating this specific variety within the 1912 10 Centavos series. The March 20, 1912 legal authorization date and ABNC printer attribution are consistent across the series, though variations in serial number prefixes and signature combinations exist. The green-underprint reverse variant represents the standard printing identified in reference catalogs for this issue.