500 Soles de Oro

Thomas De La Rue held the Peruvian banknote contract through much of the mid-twentieth century, and this series reflects that relationship clearly — high-quality intaglio work from a printer whose Peruvian output of the period is generally well-regarded technically. The 500 Soles de Oro was the highest denomination in circulation for most of this issue window, a period when Peru's export economy was generating enough foreign exchange to keep the sol reasonably stable.

Inflation pressures mounted steadily through the late 1950s, and the denomination's purchasing power eroded considerably before the series was retired. Notes that actually circulated at the 500-sol level show heavy wear as a result.