Description and research notes
A photographic proof pair for the 1939 50 Pesos issue produced for the Departamento de Emisión del Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay. Prepared as part of Uruguay’s unified pre-war banknote series, this proof pair records the finalized face and back designs in photographic form prior to circulation printing.
The obverse features a helmeted classical female figure rendered within a structured ornamental framework, accompanied by the national arms and denomination. The engraving balances symbolic presence with technical restraint, employing dense guilloche borders and controlled tonal transitions characteristic of late-1930s security engraving.
The reverse presents a large-scale historical scene depicting mounted and marching figures in a coordinated composition. The image emphasizes collective movement and national struggle, engraved with fine cross-hatching and depth to maintain clarity across the broad pictorial field.
Printed on photographic paper and mounted on original cardstock, this proof pair was created as an archival record of the approved engraving rather than as a production trial or circulation piece. Certified by Professional Coin Grading Service Currency as Choice New 63 for both face and back, it survives as a complete photographic ensemble documenting the design language of Uruguay’s 1939 50 Pesos denomination.