Catalog
500 Soles
| Issuer | La República del Perú |
|---|---|
| Year | 1879 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Sol (1863-1985) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Black intaglio on yellow and gold underprint, with an elaborate engraved border of repeated guilloche ornaments framing the entire note. At center, the Peruvian Coat of Arms is set within an oval cartouche and surrounded by a group of four cherubs in high-relief intaglio. The title 'La República del Perú' appears in bold script at upper left, with the denomination '500 Quinientos Soles' in large letterpress numerals and text at upper right, and two orange-gold serial number panels flanking the lower portion of the note. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | LA REPUBLICA 500 DEL PERÚ (Translation: The Republic of Peru 500) |
| Signature(s) | Log in to see details |
| Protection type | Log in to see details |
| Protection description | Log in to see details |
| Variants | Log in to see details |
| Comments |
Peru's 1879 issue coincided directly with the outbreak of the War of the Pacific, in which Chile, Bolivia, and Peru became embroiled in a conflict that would devastate Peruvian finances for years. The government turned to paper emission as military expenditure surged and specie reserves collapsed, making this 500 Soles note part of a broader inflationary spiral rather than routine banking practice.
The American Bank Note Company had been engraving South American currency since the 1860s and held long-standing contracts with Lima. By the time Chilean forces occupied the capital in 1881, much of this series had either been destroyed, captured, or rendered effectively worthless.