Description and research notes
The 1 Peso photo-proof pair from the 1896 American Bank Note Company series captures the democratic face of Uruguay’s new monetary system. While higher denominations projected international prestige, the single-peso note was designed to circulate widely and embody trust among ordinary citizens—a key goal following decades of financial upheaval.
These engraver’s photographic proofs, printed on sensitized paper and mounted to card, were produced in New York as pre-production approvals. Their black-and-white clarity highlights the craftsmanship usually hidden beneath color over-tinting. The face features José Gervasio Artigas in an intricate guilloche frame, emphasizing civic virtue and patriotism. The reverse assembles pastoral and civic motifs—agriculture, construction, education—within balanced ABNC ornamentation, forming a concise statement of national renewal.
By 1896 Uruguay’s paper currency had regained parity with specie, and public trust hinged on visual authority as much as fiscal policy. ABNC’s designs served as instruments of persuasion: elegant, symmetrical, and secure. The 1 Peso, though modest in denomination, symbolized the accessibility of the republic’s modern banking ethos.
This matched face-and-back pair, certified PCGS 62 New and PCGS 63 Choice New respectively, is one of few intact examples from ABNC’s archival dispersals. Beyond its rarity, it offers a documentary glimpse into the craft process that underpinned the Republic’s transition from provincial issue to nationally unified currency.