5 soles 1974

Common. This note is part of a regular issue from 1973-1974 with extensive print runs. The eBay price history provided demonstrates consistent market availability with UNC examples regularly selling in the $0.74–$2.65 range over more than a decade, with only professionally graded examples (PMG 65-67) commanding higher prices in the $10–$46 range. The catalogue 2019 value of $1.25 for UNC further confirms this is a common note readily available to collectors at modest prices.

Issued in 1974 by the Banco Central de Reserva del Perú, this note commemorates the Inca Empire through the portrait of Pachacútec, the ninth Sapa Inca who expanded the empire to its greatest territorial extent. The reverse features Sacsahuamán, the monumental fortress near Cusco built during the Inca period, serving as a testament to pre-Columbian engineering and Peru's rich archaeological heritage. This issue was part of Peru's currency circulation during the early 1970s, a period of significant political and economic change in the country.

The obverse features a three-portrait composition with Inca Pachacútec in profile wearing traditional headdress on the right side as the primary portrait, flanked by profile portraits on the left representing other historical Peruvian figures. The central design incorporates the Peruvian national coat of arms with the distinctive heraldic elements including the llama, shield bearing national symbols, and Andean flora. The composition is framed by ornamental green borders with geometric Andean motifs and diamond/cross patterns in corner medallions. The reverse presents a detailed landscape engraving of Sacsahuamán fortress, the 15th-century Inca citadel near Cusco, depicted with its characteristic massive stone blocks arranged in geometric patterns across a hillside. Decorative floral and palm motifs appear in the corners, with the denomination displayed prominently. The entire design demonstrates the fine engraving work characteristic of Thomas De La Rue's security printing.

FRONT: 'EL BANCO CENTRAL DE RESERVA DEL PERÚ' (The Central Reserve Bank of Peru); 'PAGARÁ AL PORTADOR' (Will pay to bearer); 'CINCO SOLES DE ORO' (Five soles of gold); 'DE ACUERDO CON SU LEY ORGÁNICA' (In accordance with its organic law); 'LIMA 6 DE MAYO DE 1974' (Lima, May 6, 1974); 'PRESIDENTE EJECUTIVO' (Executive President); 'DIRECTOR' (Director); 'INCA PACHACÚTEC' (Inca Pachacútec). BACK: 'BANCO CENTRAL DE RESERVA DEL PERÚ' (Central Reserve Bank of Peru); 'CINCO SOLES DE ORO' (Five soles of gold); 'FORTALEZA DE SACSAHUAMÁN' (Sacsahuamán Fortress); 'THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED' (printer attribution).

Intaglio engraving (recess printing), executed by Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited of London, a world-renowned security printer. The note exhibits characteristic features of this technique including fine line work in borders, complex guilloche patterns, intricate hatching and shading to create depth and detail in both the portraits and landscape imagery, and ornamental border designs. The precision of the engraved portraits and the detailed rendering of the Sacsahuamán stonework demonstrate the high-quality craftsmanship typical of TDLR's currency production standards.

This is catalogued as Pick P-99c, a variant of the 5 Soles de Oro issue. The visual analysis confirms the 'De Acuerdo Con Su Ley Orgánica' text variant that distinguishes this from the similar P-92. The note displays Series J with serial number J276213389 in red. The specific date of 'LIMA 6 DE MAYO DE 1974' and the two-signature format are consistent with the 1974 printing identified in the catalog data. PMG records indicate P-99c and P-99s variants exist for this Pick number, suggesting different signature combinations or serial number treatments define the varieties.