100 Pesetas

The 1953 series was issued under the Franco regime during Spain's period of autarky — a policy of economic self-sufficiency that kept the country isolated from Marshall Plan aid and produced chronic inflation. The 100 pesetas denomination was a significant sum at the time; average daily wages in Spain barely exceeded 30 pesetas, making this note anything but ordinary pocket change.

López Sánchez-Toda was the FNMT's most accomplished intaglio engraver of the mid-century, and his work on this series shows in the line depth. The FNMT handled both printing and engraving entirely in-house — unusual for a mid-century European issue of this quality.