Description and research notes
The 10 Pesos proof pair from Uruguay’s 1896 series embodies the American Bank Note Company’s mastery of classical engraving blended with local iconography. Produced in New York during a period of monetary consolidation under the Ley de 18 de Agosto 1896, these photographic proofs were printed from the master engravings before plate hardening. Their survival offers an unfiltered look at the artistry behind Uruguay’s first truly modern bank-note design.
The face displays a commanding portrait of José Gervasio Artigas surrounded by ornate lathework and geometric filigree that symbolized financial security and national pride. The reverse presents a detailed harbor view of Montevideo—Uruguay’s economic lifeline at the turn of the century—encircled by classical flourishes and the nation’s arms. The balanced layout mirrors ABNC’s late-Victorian aesthetic while localizing its imagery for a South-American republic seeking legitimacy in global markets.
In the 1890s Uruguay recovered from decades of civil conflict and currency instability. The Banco de la República Oriental del Uruguay became the instrument of fiscal normalization, and ABNC was commissioned to produce a coherent, high-quality note series in pesos fuertes. The 10 Pesos denomination struck the ideal midpoint between accessibility and prestige, often selected for presentation sets and archival documentation.
Few complete face-and-back photo-proof pairs survive; most ABNC examples were destroyed when the firm streamlined its archives mid-20th century. Graded PCGS 63 Choice New on both sides, this pair preserves the crisp tonality and deep contrast that defined the company’s photographic approval process—an artifact of Uruguay’s transformation from frontier economy to integrated Atlantic-world exporter.