20 soles 1879
Market Prices
5 salesAbout This Note
This is a Peru 20 Soles banknote from 1879, issued by the República del Perú and printed by the American Bank Note Company of New York. The note features an allegorical female figure in classical style on the obverse, rendered in black engraving on a tan/beige underprint, with an elaborate reverse design centered on the numeral '20' within ornamental framing. In VG condition, this 140+ year old currency shows expected age-related characteristics including foxing, discoloration, pinholes, creasing, and brittleness, consistent with significant circulation and handling over more than a century.
Common. This is a regular issue note from a stable period of Peruvian fiscal administration, issued by the American Bank Note Company with no indication of limited print runs or early recall. eBay price tracking data from realbanknotes.com shows consistent sales activity over multiple years with notes in F condition selling for $10-$29 and one instance of a VG note selling for $9 in 2011. These low realized prices ($9-$103 range) and the presence of multiple sales transactions indicate this is a relatively common note in the marketplace. While 140+ years old and historically interesting, it does not command premium prices typical of scarce or rare issues.
This banknote was issued during a period of fiscal reorganization in Peru following the War of the Pacific (1879-1884), as evidenced by the date of June 30, 1879, and the reference to government operations in September 1879. The allegorical female figure represents Liberty and national sovereignty, a common motif in Latin American currency design of the period intended to project stability and constitutional legitimacy. The maritime and architectural elements depicted in the central vignette and reverse medallions reflect Peru's economic foundation in coastal trade and colonial-era infrastructure during this transitional period of government fiscal administration.
The obverse depicts an allegorical female figure representing Liberty or national prosperity, seated in classical robes at the center of an ornate engraved vignette. The figure is surrounded by maritime and navigational implements, suggesting Peru's commercial importance as a Pacific trading nation. Background elements include a harbor or port scene, reinforcing the economic theme. The design is framed by intricate geometric border patterns with elaborate corner rosettes typical of late 19th-century American banknote design. The reverse presents a large ornamental numeral '20' as the dominant central element, housed within a decorative frame with scalloped/shell-like border patterns. Circular medallions flank the central numeral on the left and right, containing architectural structures—possibly representing colonial fortifications or civic buildings significant to Peru's heritage. The entire composition demonstrates fine line engraving executed with precision, characteristic of American Bank Note Company's high-security production standards.
FRONT SIDE: 'República del Perú' (Republic of Peru); '20 Veinte Soles' (20 Twenty Soles); Serial number 'B143772'; 'PAGADOR' (Payer); 'PORTADOR' (Bearer); 'Conformidad a leyes del Gobierno dispuesto en las ops de Setiembre del 879' (In conformity with laws of the Government arranged in the operations of September of 879); 'POR LA JUNTA Y DE VIGILANCIA DE ADMINISTRADORA LA EMISIÓN FISCAL' (By the Board and Oversight of Administrator of the Fiscal Emission); 'LIMA, JUNIO 30 DE 1879' (Lima, June 30, 1879); plus handwritten official signatures. BACK SIDE: '20 Veinte Soles 20' (20 Twenty Soles 20); 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, NEW YORK' (American Bank Note Company, New York).
This banknote was produced using intaglio/engraved line printing (copperplate engraving), the dominant security printing method of the era. The American Bank Note Company of New York, one of the world's premier security printers, executed the engraving and printing. The fine line work visible throughout the note—particularly in the intricate geometric borders, the detailed allegorical figure, the architectural medallions, and the numerals—is characteristic of high-quality intaglio production. The precision engraving provided both aesthetic quality and anti-counterfeiting security through the difficulty of reproducing such fine detail.
The observed note bears the serial number B143772 with the 'B' prefix indicating a specific printing batch. The note is dated Lima, June 30, 1879, matching catalog data. Signature varieties are documented for this Pick number according to realbanknotes.com reference. This particular example appears to be the standard variety without overprints or special markings. The Pick catalog notes the existence of P-7 as a related/similar note, but this specimen is clearly identified as P-6 (20 Soles). No distinguishing overprints, color variants, or security feature modifications are evident in the visual analysis beyond the standard design.
