Description and research notes
An undated photographic proof pair for the 100 Pesos denomination produced by the American Bank Note Company for the Banco de la República Oriental del Uruguay. Printed on photographic paper and mounted on cardstock, this pair documents an early twentieth-century design stage preceding later interwar issues, preserved outside the currency production workflow.
The obverse presents a formal portrait of José Gervasio Artigas in profile within a dense ornamental framework of laurel and guilloche elements, with the denomination prominently displayed. A secondary vignette of a mounted gaucho appears within the design, reinforcing national identity through rural and military symbolism characteristic of Uruguay’s early banknote iconography.
The reverse depicts the equestrian monument of Artigas set within an architectural surround, rendered with controlled perspective and fine line work. The composition emphasizes civic commemoration and state continuity, translating monumental sculpture into secure engraved form.
These photographic proofs were created as archival records of the approved engraving rather than as working proofs for press setup or circulation. Certified by Professional Coin Grading Service Currency as New 62 for both face and back, the pair survives as a complete mounted ensemble representing an early phase of Uruguay’s twentieth-century banknote design.