Description and research notes
Companion specimen to the 1 Peso Fuerte, engraved and printed by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. for the Banco de San Juan. The 5 Pesos Fuertes note expands the artistic program with allegorical vignettes of Liberty, the national arms of Argentina, and native fauna—each rendered with the precision that defined Bradbury Wilkinson’s London workshop during the golden age of steel engraving.
This issue belongs to the same 1876 provincial authorization that allowed San Juan to participate in the nationwide *Bancos Garantidos* system, aligning provincial credit with national currency standards while retaining local autonomy. The elegant design and high engraving quality reflect the confidence of a young province integrating into Argentina’s post-confederation economy.
Archival numbering and immaculate paper surfaces confirm this piece as a non-issued proof retained for institutional or printer records. It is the sole graded example of its denomination in the PMG census, with no issued counterpart and no surviving variants. Together with the 1 Peso Fuerte, it forms a complete surviving specimen set—an exceptional educational artifact illustrating Argentina’s regional banking ambition and the international artistry that underpinned it.