Description and research notes
Earliest emission of the Junta de Credito Publico, dated 4 de Mayo de 1870, representing Uruguay’s first nationally guaranteed paper currency after the financial reform law of the same date. Printed locally in Montevideo by Litografía G. Mas & Cía., the note carries the denomination of 1 Peso, its face tinted green and engraved in fine local intaglio style. The allegorical figure of Mercury, god of commerce and trade, appears seated at left holding the caduceus, symbolizing Uruguay’s aspiration toward open international trade.
This specimen bears the signature of Ruy and West, members of the Junta, written boldly in black ink below the legend 'Por la Junta de Credito Publico'. Each member signed a limited number of notes personally, leading to numerous autograph varieties. The distinctive scalloped left edge was a deliberate anti-counterfeiting feature, making trimming or splicing impossible. Notes were backed by customs-revenue proceeds, securing Uruguay’s transition from regional banknotes to a unified national paper issue.
Cataloged as Pick A110a (hand-signed type), this example is among the earliest surviving notes of the series and provides direct evidence of hand authorization before facsimile signatures were introduced. Together with the variant signed differently (see Serial 710157 below), it forms part of a comparative pair illustrating the signature diversity within the 1870 1 Peso emission.