Description and research notes
A photographic proof pair for the 1935 100 Pesos issue produced by the American Bank Note Company for the Departamento de Emisión del Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay. Prepared as part of the redesigned monetary series authorized in 1935, this proof pair records the finalized face and back designs prior to reduction to circulating format.
The obverse combines two principal motifs within a dense ornamental framework: a formal portrait of José Gervasio Artigas and a classical female figure holding scales, arranged symmetrically around the central national arms and denomination. The engraving emphasizes clarity of line, controlled tonal balance, and reduced ornamental excess, reflecting American Bank Note Company’s mature interwar style.
The reverse presents a large-scale civic scene with a gathered populace before a monumental architectural setting, rendered with deep perspective and fine cross-hatching. The composition favors narrative realism and spatial depth over allegorical abstraction, demonstrating the company’s ability to translate complex scenes into secure intaglio form.
Printed on photographic paper and previously mounted on cardstock, this proof pair was not part of the production workflow but served as an archival record of the approved design. Certified by Professional Coin Grading Service Currency as Choice New 63 for the face and New 62 for the back, it survives as a complete face-and-back photographic ensemble documenting Uruguay’s 1935 banknote program.