Catalog
1 Libra Peruana de Oro
| Issuer | Banco de Reserva del Perú |
|---|---|
| Year | 1926 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Obverse description | The left portion of the note is dominated by an allegorical female figure seated among rocks, holding a cornucopia overflowing with fruits and produce, rendered in fine intaglio engraving. At centre, a large numeral '1' vignette is set within an elaborate guilloche underprint, flanked by repeated '1' numerals in the corners. The upper margin carries the bank title 'BANCO DE RESERVA DEL PERÚ' and the legend 'PAGARÁ AL PORTADOR', with the denomination inscription 'UNA LIBRA PERUANA DE ORO' in a panel at the bottom; series and serial number appear in red. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Printed entirely in brick-red on white cotton paper, the reverse centres on an intaglio vignette of a miner operating a pneumatic drill at a rock face, symbolising Peru's mining industry. The vignette is flanked symmetrically by ornate guilloche scrollwork panels bearing large stylised numeral '1' devices in each corner. The denomination 'UNA LIBRA PERUANA DE ORO' is inscribed along the lower border, with 'BANCO DE RESERVA DEL PERÚ' across the top; the imprint 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY' appears at the foot. |
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| Comments |
The Banco de Reserva del Perú was established in 1922 to replace the discredited Junta de Vigilancia system, and these early ABNC-printed issues represented the institution's first serious attempt at a unified national currency backed by gold reserves. The Libra Peruana de Oro was pegged to the British pound sterling — a deliberate choice that reflected Peru's deep commercial ties with London rather than New York, despite the note being printed there.
The series was short-lived. Peru abandoned the Libra in 1931 amid the global depression, converting to the Sol de Oro. Surviving 1926 examples are relatively scarce, as the transition involved systematic withdrawal and destruction of the old denomination.