Catalog
2 Soles
| Issuer | Banco de Londres Mexico y Sud America |
|---|---|
| Year | 1873 |
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| Value | 2 Soles |
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| Obverse description | The obverse is dominated by the bold bank title inscription BANCO DE LONDRES MEXICO Y SUD AMERICA arched across the upper portion, flanked by the numeral 2 in each corner. A central oval vignette contains a portrait of Queen Victoria. To the left and right of the central vignette are allegorical female figures in classical style. The denomination DOS SOLES is printed in large bold letterpress text at centre, with the place and date of issue reading LIMA and En 1o de 1873, along with the clause Pagara a la vista al portador en efectivo. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | BANCO DE LONDRES MEXICO Y SUD AMERICA DOS SOLES Pagará a la vista al portador en efectivo LIMA En 1o de 1873 FOR THE LONDON BANK OF MEXICO & SOUTH AMERICA LIMITED 2 ORIENTE |
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| Comments |
The Banco de Londres, México y Sud América was a British-owned commercial bank that operated branches across South America in the nineteenth century, functioning primarily as a trade finance institution rather than a central issuer. Its Peruvian branch obtained note-issuing privileges during a brief window of private banking activity in Peru before the government moved to consolidate currency control. The ABNC printed this series in New York to a high standard, as was typical of their South American commissions of that decade.
Peru's fiscal situation deteriorated sharply after 1873 with falling guano revenues and mounting debt, and within a few years private bank notes were effectively displaced by government-issued obligations. Surviving examples from this bank tend to show light circulation, suggesting many were retired early.