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Nineteenth-century Argentina built its paper-money system in step with nation-building: provincial banks financed regional economies, private institutions issued notes under local charters, and foreign engravers supplied the security printing. Before national standardization, circulation mixed Reales, Pesos Fuertes, and later gold-denominated Peso Oro, reflecting a monetary landscape in transition. The 1881 monetary reform moved the country toward a unified peso-based framework, but the earlier decades remain pivotal for understanding printer networks, allegory, and anti-counterfeit technique on Argentine paper.

Two great engraving houses dominated this era: Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. (London) and the American Bank Note Company (New York). Their styles—BWC’s bold allegories and ABNC’s tight guilloche and portraiture—shaped designs for provincial banks from San Juan to Buenos Aires. Specimens and printer’s proofs survive as the cleanest record of design intent, often the only way to study plates that issued lightly—or not at all. Together, these pieces show how Argentina expressed federal identity, commerce, and modernization through paper money long before a fully centralized issue took hold. Use the filters above to pivot by type or year; the selection below samples this broader story rather than repeating card-level descriptions.

12 results · Page 1 of 1
Argentina 1883 Banco de la Provincia de Buenos Aires 2 Pesos Oro Proof, PMG 64 Top Pop

Argentina 1883 — Banco de la Provincia de Buenos Aires 2 Pesos Oro Proof (Pick S536fp)

Superb proof engraving prepared by the American Bank Note Company for the Banco de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, dated 19 de Enero de 1883. The design features an equestrian vignette at center symbolizing progress and vitality, flanked by portraits of Florencio Varela and Valentín Alsina, two influential figures in Argentina’s political and intellectual life. Printed directly from ABNC master plates in black ink on thin India paper and mounted on card stock, this piece confirms its pre-issue proof status. ... Read more →

ArgentinaProof18832 Pesos OroPMG 64 Choice Uncirculated (Top Pop) Proof2 Pesos OroArchivalTop PopEngraved Security PrintingBanco de la Provincia de Buenos AiresArgentine Provincial Banks19th Century BankingPesos Oro SeriesABNCAmerican Bank Note CompanyLatin American NumismaticsPre-National ConsolidationProvincial Monetary HistoryArgentinaBuenos Aires1883PMG 64Museum GradeR9 Extremely Rare
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Argentina 1867 Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata 4 Reales Plata Boliviana proof, PCGS 63

Argentina 1867 — Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata 4 Reales Plata Boliviana Proof (Pick S1734p)

Archival proof printed by the American Bank Note Company for the Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata, dated 1 Enero 1867 and assigned to the Rosario branch. This fractional 4 Reales denomination belongs to the transitional pre-peso period when Argentine provincial banks still operated under the 'Moneda Boliviana' standard inherited from regional trade with Bolivia and Peru. The design features a central bull’s head vignette framed by intricate ornamental borders — a unique choice among Argentine banknotes. ... Read more →

ArgentinaProof18674 RealesPCGS 63 Choice New Pick S1734p4 RealesProofABNCAmerican Bank Note CompanyBanco de Londres y Rio de la PlataRosarioBritish-Argentine BankingEngraved Security PrintingMoneda Boliviana StandardPre-Decimal ArgentinaTransitional CurrencyLivestock EconomyCattle Trade SymbolismProvincial Banking19th Century ArgentinaFrontier Monetary HistoryArgentina1867Choice NewMuseum GradeR7 Extremely Rare
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Argentina 1871 Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata 10 Pesos Rosario control specimen, serial 000001, punch cancelled, with period pencil annotation dated February 1872

Argentina 1871 — Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata 10 Pesos Rosario Specimen No. 000001 (Pick Unlisted)

This specimen represents an archival control note of the Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata 10 Pesos issue prepared for the Rosario branch, dated Rosario, 10 de Noviembre de 1871, and printed by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Company in London. It was produced as part of the bank internal authorization and registration process for provincial issues and was never intended for circulation. The Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata, incorporated in London in 1862, operated as a British controlled private bank with branches in Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Rosario, and Montevideo. ... Read more →

ArgentinaSpecimen187110 Pesos Moneda BolivianaUncirculated (Archival Control Specimen, Serial 000001) Specimen BanknotePick UnlistedSingle Instance Control SpecimenSerial Number 000001Punch CancelledArchival Control MaterialBanco de Londres y Rio de la PlataBritish Controlled BankingRosario BranchProvincial Private BankingMoneda BolivianaFragmented Monetary SystemNineteenth Century ArgentinaJose de San MartinNational IconographyEngraved Portrait VignetteBradbury WilkinsonBWCBritish Security PrintingExport Engraved NotesArgentinaRosario1871Handwritten Archival AnnotationMuseum GradeR9 Extremely RareUnique
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Argentina 1884 El Banco del Chaco 1 Peso Moneda Nacional Oro, Serial 15849

Argentina 1884 — El Banco del Chaco 1 Peso Moneda Nacional Oro Serial 15849 (Pick S1566)

Issued provincial note from El Banco del Chaco, Villa Ocampo branch, dated 1 Octubre 1884, printed by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co., London, under Argentina’s Ley de Bancos Garantidos system. Hand-signed, Series I, serial 15849. The allegorical female personifies Agriculture, flanked by a dog and bull symbolizing loyalty, vigilance, and strength. ... Read more →

ArgentinaIssued Note18841 Peso Moneda Nacional OroFine–Very Fine (est.) 1 Peso OroIssued NoteEl Banco del ChacoBradbury WilkinsonBWCVilla OcampoPrivate BankSerial 15849Frontier CirculationLey de Bancos GarantidosProvincial BankingNorthern ArgentinaChaco Region HistoryAgriculture AllegoryBritish Influence19th Century ArgentinaCirculated SurvivorArgentina1884Museum GradeR8 Extremely Rare
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Argentina 1884 El Banco del Chaco 1 Peso Moneda Nacional Oro, Serial 05056, corner-missing example

Argentina 1884 — El Banco del Chaco 1 Peso Moneda Nacional Oro Serial 05056 (Pick S1566)

Partial issued note of El Banco del Chaco’s 1 Peso Moneda Nacional Oro, dated 1 Octubre 1884 and printed by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co., London, for the Villa Ocampo branch under the Ley de Bancos Garantidos provincial charter. The vignette centers on an allegory of Agriculture symbolizing prosperity and labor, flanked by a dog and bull for loyalty and strength—one of BWC’s finest small-format engravings for South America. Although the upper-right corner is missing, this early-serial piece (No. ... Read more →

ArgentinaIssued Note18841 Peso Moneda Nacional OroFair–Good (missing corner) Fragment1 Peso OroEl Banco del ChacoBradbury WilkinsonBWCVilla OcampoPrivate BankSeries ISerial 05056Frontier CirculationNorthern ArgentinaChaco Region HistoryLey de Bancos GarantidosProvincial IssuerCirculated SurvivorAgriculture AllegoryFrontier BankingArgentina1884Museum GradeR8 Extremely Rare
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Argentina 1866 Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata 1 Real Rosario Type A printed signature serial 635405

Argentina 1866 — Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata 1 Real Rosario Type A (Printed Signature) PS1731 · Bauman SFE 70

Early circulating bank vale issued by the Rosario branch of the Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata, dated Rosario, 15 de Setiembre de 1866. The note promises payment at sight of one Real in Plata Boliviana, reflecting the silver standard widely used in regional trade across the Rio de la Plata basin and the interior provinces of Argentina during the mid-nineteenth century. The Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata, founded in London in 1862, represented one of the first large foreign banking institutions operating in the Southern Cone. ... Read more →

ArgentinaIssued Note18661 RealFine–Very Fine (issued example with printed authorization signature) Issued Note1 RealBanco de Londres y Rio de la PlataRosario BranchPrivate BanknotePrinted Signature TypeTypographic Bank ValeCommercial Promissory NoteBolivian Silver StandardProvincial Currency SystemRiver Trade EconomyBritish Banking ExpansionEarly Argentine Paper MoneyEarly Argentine BanknoteNineteenth Century Provincial BankingArgentinaRosario1866Museum GradeR8 Extremely Rare
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Argentina 1866 Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata 1 Real Rosario Type B handwritten signature serial 636796

Argentina 1866 — Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata 1 Real Rosario Type B (Hand-Signed) PS1731 · Bauman SFE 70

Issued fractional bank vale of the Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata dated Rosario, 15 de Setiembre de 1866. The note promises payment at sight of one Real in Plata Boliviana and belongs to the earliest circulation phase of British-controlled private banking activity in Argentina. Founded in London in 1862, the Banco de Londres y Rio de la Plata rapidly became one of the most influential foreign financial institutions operating in the Rio de la Plata region. ... Read more →

ArgentinaIssued Note18661 RealFine (issued example with original manuscript authorization signature) Issued Note1 RealBanco de Londres y Rio de la PlataRosario BranchPrivate BanknoteHand-Signed AuthorizationTypographic Bank ValeCommercial Promissory NoteBolivian Silver StandardProvincial Currency SystemRiver Trade EconomyBritish Banking ExpansionEarly Argentine Paper MoneyEarly Argentine BanknoteNineteenth Century Provincial BankingArgentinaRosario1866Museum GradeR8 Extremely Rare
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Argentina 1876 Banco de San Juan 1 Peso Fuerte archival specimen printed by Bradbury Wilkinson, condor vignette, provincial private bank issue, PMG 64 EPQ

Argentina 1876 — Banco de San Juan 1 Peso Fuerte Specimen (Pick S1880s)

This specimen represents the sole documented control specimen of the Banco de San Juan 1 Peso Fuerte issue, printed in 1876 by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Company in London for one of Argentina’s provincially chartered banks during the formative period of regional monetary autonomy. It is not part of a surviving series, but a single archival output with no issued, proof, or parallel specimen counterparts known. The Banco de San Juan operated within the interior province of San Juan during a period when Argentina’s banking system was highly decentralized. ... Read more →

ArgentinaSpecimen18761 Peso FuertePMG 64 Choice Uncirculated Exceptional Paper Quality (Top Population) Specimen BanknotePick S1880sSingle Instance Control SpecimenArchival Approval NoteProvincial Private Bank IssuePunch Cancelled SpecimenBanco de San JuanArgentine Provincial BanksRegional Monetary AutonomyLey de Bancos GarantidosFrontier Province FinanceCondor VignetteNational Andean SymbolismEngraved Security PrintingBradbury WilkinsonBWCBritish Security PrintingExport Engraved NotesArgentinaSan Juan1876Exceptional Paper QualityTop PopMuseum GradeR9 Extremely RareUnique
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Argentina 1876 Banco de San Juan 5 Pesos Fuertes archival specimen printed by Bradbury Wilkinson, provincial private banknote, PMG 64 EPQ

Argentina 1876 — Banco de San Juan 5 Pesos Fuertes Specimen (S1881s)

This specimen represents the sole documented control specimen of the Banco de San Juan 5 Pesos Fuertes issue, printed in 1876 by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Company in London for the provincial Bank of San Juan. It is not part of a surviving series but a single archival output, with no issued, proof, or parallel specimen counterparts known. The Banco de San Juan operated within Argentina’s interior Andean province during a period when provincial banks exercised near-sovereign authority over local credit and currency issuance. ... Read more →

ArgentinaSpecimen18765 Pesos FuertesPMG 64 Choice Uncirculated Exceptional Paper Quality (Top Population) Specimen BanknotePick S1880sSingle Instance Control SpecimenArchival Approval NoteProvincial Private Bank IssuePunch Cancelled SpecimenBanco de San JuanArgentine Provincial BanksRegional Monetary AutonomyLey de Bancos GarantidosFrontier Province FinanceAllegorical VignetteProvincial Coat of ArmsNative Fauna IconographyEngraved Security PrintingBradbury WilkinsonBWCBritish Security PrintingExport Engraved NotesArgentinaSan Juan1876Exceptional Paper QualityTop PopMuseum GradeR9 Extremely RareUnique
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Argentina 1869 Banco Domingo Garbino 5 Pesos Fuertes issued note with red overprint, Pick S1803, PMG 58

Argentina 1869 — Banco Domingo Garbino, 5 Pesos Fuertes Issued Note with Red Overprint (Pick S1803)

Issued 5 Pesos Fuertes note of Banco Domingo Garbino, printed by the American Bank Note Company (Compañía Americana de Billetes de Banco Nueva York) and formally activated for circulation through the large diagonal red overprint “DOMINGO GARBINO.” This overprint was not decorative nor optional: it was the legal validation required to transform the bank’s remainder stock (Pick S1792r) into fully issued, signed, numbered, and payable currency. For this reason, Pick S1803 represents the only surviving issued form of the Garbino 5 Pesos Fuertes denomination. The base printing displays ABNC’s early post-Civil-War engraving style: a vigilant dog guarding a strongbox at top center, allegorical female portraits representing rural labor and domestic virtue, and deep green lathe-work executed with the precision that made ABNC the dominant security printer in the Americas. ... Read more →

ArgentinaIssued Note18695 Pesos FuertesPMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated Issued NoteOverprint TypeRed OverprintPick S18035 Pesos FuertesABNCAmerican Bank Note CompanyEngraved Security PrintingProvincial BanknoteRegional Convertibility19th Century BankingBanco Domingo GarbinoWestern Argentina FinanceRemainder ConversionOverprint ValidationMonetary HistoryLatin American NumismaticsArgentina1869PMG 58R7 Very RareMuseum Grade
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Argentina 1844 Provincia de Buenos Ayres 5 Pesos Moneda Corriente Rosas Confederation legend with Rosas manuscript signature and nandu vignette

Argentina 1844 — Provincia de Buenos Ayres 5 Pesos Moneda Corriente Issued Note, 1º Febrero 1844, Rosas Confederation Legend, Rosas Signature (Pick S389)

This 5 Pesos Moneda Corriente note was issued by the Provincia de Buenos Ayres and dated 1º Febrero 1844 during the political dominance of Juan Manuel de Rosas. It belongs to the Rosas-era provincial emission bearing the explicit political slogan 'Viva la Confederacion Argentina – Mueran los Salvajes Unitarios,' printed directly on circulating currency as a declaration of federal loyalty and ideological alignment within the Argentine Confederation. The note was produced by the Casa de Moneda de Buenos Ayres, operating under the financial system structured by José María Rojas y Patrón, Minister of Finance under Rosas. ... Read more →

ArgentinaIssued Note18445 Pesos Moneda CorrienteUngraded Issued Note5 Pesos Moneda CorrienteRosas SignatureRojas SignatureJosé María Rojas SignatureJosé María Rojas y PatrónHand SignedLaid PaperRosas Confederation LegendNandu VignetteCheckered Security BandProvincia de Buenos AyresCasa de Moneda de Buenos AyresJose Maria Rojas y PatronMinister of Finance Buenos AiresCasa de Moneda ReformJuan Manuel de Rosas EraArgentine Confederation PeriodPre National Banking SystemArgentina1844Benegas and Ahlstrom BA42bPick S389R9 Extremely RareMuseum Grade
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Argentina 1869 Banco Domingo Garbino 1 Peso Fuerte issued note with red overprint, Pick S1802, PMG 63 EPQ

Argentina 1869 — Banco Domingo Garbino, 1 Peso Fuerte Issued Note with Red Overprint (Pick S1802)

Issued 1 Peso Fuerte note of Banco Domingo Garbino, printed by the American Bank Note Company (Compañía Americana de Billetes de Banco Nueva York) and formally activated for circulation through the large vertical red overprint “DOMINGO GARBINO.” This overprint was the legal validation required to convert remainder stock (Pick S1791) into fully issued, signed, numbered, and payable currency. Pick S1802 represents the only surviving issued form of the Garbino 1 Peso denomination. The base design reflects ABNC’s late 1860s export engraving style. ... Read more →

ArgentinaIssued Note18691 Peso FuertePMG 63 Exceptional Paper Quality Issued NoteOverprint TypeRed OverprintPick S18021 Peso FuerteABNCAmerican Bank Note CompanyEngraved Security PrintingProvincial BanknoteRegional Convertibility19th Century BankingBanco Domingo GarbinoWestern Argentina FinanceRemainder ConversionOverprint ValidationMonetary HistoryLatin American NumismaticsArgentina1869PMG 63R7 Very RareMuseum Grade
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