Catalog
5 Pesos
| Issuer | Banco Nacional |
|---|---|
| Year | 1826 |
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| Shape | Rectangular |
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| Obverse description | Unilateral note printed in black on cream paper with an elaborate calligraphic script throughout. At upper centre, the issuer's name appears in ornate lettering, with the denomination numeral '5' in a framed box at upper right and lower left. To the left, a small oval vignette bears the Argentine coat of arms within a laurel wreath. The text body is set in flowing script promising payment to the bearer on demand, with signature lines for 'Contador' and 'Presidente' at the foot. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Banco Nacional Promete pagar al portador y a la vista la Cantidad de Cinco Pesos en moneda metálica Buenos Ayres. POR LOS DIRECTORES Y ACCIONISTAS Contador Presidente |
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| Comments |
Banco Nacional was Argentina's first national bank, established by Bernardino Rivadavia in 1822 as part of a sweeping modernization program for the newly independent province of Buenos Aires. It collapsed in 1836, leaving significant unpaid liabilities, which makes any surviving note from its short operational life genuinely rare. The bank printed locally rather than contracting European firms — unusual for the period, when most Latin American issuers relied on London or Paris for engraving.
Notes from the 1826 issues appear in the PS (Specialized) numbering rather than the main Pick sequence, reflecting their provisional, regionally-bound status. Paper quality from the Buenos Aires press was inconsistent, and foxing is endemic to surviving examples.