See full images - free registration
Continue with Google - no registration! or register with email

Why register? Just to keep bots out of our catalog. Your email stays private - we will never share it or send you anything uninvited. We guarantee you that!

1/2 Real Tesoro Nacional

Issuer Tesoro Nacional de la República del Paraguay
Year 1856
Type Standard circulation banknote
Value Log in to see details
Currency Log in to see details
Composition Log in to see details
Size Log in to see details
Shape Log in to see details
Printer Log in to see details
Designer(s) Log in to see details
Engraver(s) Log in to see details
In circulation to Log in to see details
Reference(s) Log in to see details
Obverse description A floral vignette occupies the upper right, while a circular seal with the coat of arms of the Republic of Paraguay is centered in the upper field. The note carries a decorative border of repeated ornamental units framing the entire face, with the text arranged in horizontal lines across the center and lower portion; the note is completed by two hand-applied manuscript signatures and a hand-written serial number.
Obverse lettering Medio real Nº REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY En el Tesoro Nacional de la Republica se pagará al portador de este la cantidad de MEDIO REAL valor recebido.
(Translation: Half Real Republic of Paraguay In the National Treasury of Republic will pay the bearer Half Real paid amount.)
Reverse description Log in to see details
Reverse lettering Log in to see details
Signature(s) Log in to see details
Protection type Log in to see details
Protection description Log in to see details
Variants Log in to see details
Comments

Paraguay's first paper currency, issued under Carlos Antonio López, who had only recently opened the country to foreign trade after decades of near-total isolation under his predecessor Francia. The Tesoro Nacional notes were printed domestically — an unusual choice for a mid-nineteenth century Latin American republic, most of which contracted European firms. Asunción's facilities were rudimentary, and it shows: the printing is uneven across surviving examples, with ink distribution inconsistent between impressions.

The watermark is the primary security feature, which is modest even by the standards of the period. Pick 1 is the foundation of the entire Paraguayan paper money series.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE