Catalog
25 Pesos
| Issuer | La Providencia - Sociedad General del Perú |
|---|---|
| Year | 1863 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Obverse description | The obverse carries the issuer's title 'La Providencia / Sociedad General del Perú' in ornate script across the upper portion, flanked by denomination numerals '25' in each upper corner. To the left, a standing allegorical vignette depicts a classical female figure. The large denomination legend 'VEINTE Y CINCO PESOS' is printed in bold red letterpress across the centre, overlying the serial number and manuscript text, with signature lines for the Tesorero, Presidente, and Director General positioned in the lower field. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | La Providencia Sociedad General del Perú VEINTE Y CINCO PESOS 25 El Tesorero El Presidente El Director General |
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| Comments |
La Providencia was one of several Lima-based private banks that issued notes during Peru's brief experiment with free banking in the early 1860s. The sector collapsed quickly — most of these institutions were undercapitalized, and public confidence evaporated well before the formal banking legislation of 1873 brought the era to a close. Notes from La Providencia are genuinely uncommon survivors; the bank's lifespan was short enough that relatively few notes entered extended circulation.
The "Sociedad General del Perú" designation suggests a broader commercial mandate beyond pure deposit banking, though the practical distinction mattered little once redemptions were suspended.