Description and research notes
A large-format photographic presentation proof pair for the 1935 500 Pesos issue produced by the American Bank Note Company for the Departamento de Emisión del Banco de la República Oriental del Uruguay. As part of Uruguay’s pre-war unified design program, the 500 Pesos denomination occupied a senior position within the series, below the 1,000 Pesos but above the standard circulation values.
The obverse features a classical female head in profile within an elaborate architectural and ornamental framework, accompanied by the full denomination and national arms. The enlarged photographic format allows close examination of engraving density, line structure, and tonal balance, showcasing American Bank Note Company’s mature interwar engraving style.
The reverse presents a complex multi-figure scene centered on rural labor and agrarian production, with figures arranged in a cohesive narrative composition. The imagery emphasizes productivity, land, and social continuity rather than abstract allegory, rendered with substantial depth and compositional control.
Printed on photographic paper and mounted on original cardstock, this proof pair was not part of the currency production process but served as an archival and presentation record of the finalized design. Certified by Professional Coin Grading Service Currency as Choice About New 55 on the face and Choice New 63 on the back, it survives as a complete large-format photographic ensemble documenting Uruguay’s monetary iconography immediately prior to the stylistic refinements of the 1939 series.