50 centavos 1921

Rare. This is an unlisted Pick number provisional issue from a small regional military authority with limited circulation and no record in standard catalogs. The specific issuer ('Cheque Provisional' in Iquitos), the October 1921 date, and the military-issued nature all indicate a short-lived, localized emergency emission with a small print run. The absence from Pick's standard catalog and the highly localized nature of Iquitos regional currency make this a scarce item for serious collectors of Peruvian emergency money and regional Latin American provisionals.

This note was issued by the 'Cheque Provisional' authority in Iquitos under military control, as indicated by the inscriptions 'CAP. JEFE POLITICO Y MILITAR' (Captain Political and Military Chief) and the date of October 1, 1921. The text 'REPÚBLICA PROVISIONALE' and 'DE CIRCULACION FORZOSA' (Forced Circulation) reflect the unstable political conditions in Peru during this period, when regional authorities issued their own currency to maintain commerce during central government disruption. The Iquitos location is significant as a major Amazon port city, and the military-issued nature of this provisional suggests local conflict or administrative reorganization requiring emergency monetary measures.

The front features a classical female allegorical figure (representing Liberty or Peru) within an ornamental circular engraved frame, surrounded by baroque-style scrollwork and floral corner ornaments. The design employs traditional security printing elements including intricate line engraving throughout. The back presents a simpler layout with large denomination numerals '50' as the focal point, flanked by ornamental corner designs featuring radiating fan/sunburst patterns and spiral scrollwork. The note's tan/beige coloring and black engraved details are typical of period currency. Multiple elements indicate this was a hastily produced emergency issue: handwritten signatures of the issuing officials, a green overprint stamp across the front, and serial number 'Nº 14' applied by hand or simple printing.

FRONT SIDE: 'REPÚBLICA PROVISIONALE' (Provisional Republic) / 'DE CIRCULACION FORZOSA' (Of Forced Circulation) / 'EMITIDO CON GARANTIA DE LOS ESTADOS' (Issued with Guarantee of the States) / 'UN SOL' (One Sol) / 'IQUITOS 1º DE OCTUBRE 1921' (Iquitos 1st of October 1921) / 'Nº 14' (Number 14) / 'CAP. JEFE POLITICO Y MILITAR' (Captain Political and Military Chief) / 'AROMOR DE LA ADUANA' (Customs Officer). BACK SIDE: 'VALE 50 CENTAVOS' (Worth 50 Centavos) - repeated multiple times / '50' (Fifty).

Intaglio engraving (line engraving) for the primary design elements, front and back, executed in the traditional security printing method of the era. The core design appears to have been produced by a commercial printer, with the regional authority's specific inscriptions, signatures, and the green overprint stamp applied locally. The handwritten signatures and simple numerical serial numbering suggest limited facilities and emergency production conditions in Iquitos rather than a major central mint or security printer.

This specific note is variety Nº 14, as indicated by the serial number. The green overprint stamp represents a distinguishing feature of this particular issue or batch. The handwritten signatures of the 'CAP. JEFE POLITICO Y MILITAR' and 'AROMOR DE LA ADUANA' officials appear to be unique to individual notes or small batches, suggesting that signature varieties exist within this provisional series. The October 1, 1921 date appears consistent across the emission, marking this as from the initial or only issuance of this provisional series.