Description and research notes
Specimen of the 1939 50 Pesos, printed by Thomas De La Rue for the Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay, Series C. Serial 00000000-9, watermark J. G. Artigas. This unperforated specimen bears the red SPECIMEN overprint and oval DE LA RUE LTD stamps but no punch cancels, representing the standard reference sample distributed to the issuing authority and central archives.
Design and engraving identical to Pick 38s: indigenous warrior at right, national arms at left, reverse with the ceremonial assembly scene. The absence of perforations and holes distinguishes it from printer-file specimens. De La Rue applied consecutive specimen numbers (here No. 9) for internal cataloguing.
Significance: among the cleanest surviving examples of the 1939 issue and an essential link between the proof and circulation runs. Notes of this configuration confirmed plate colors and layout for production approval at the Montevideo mint office.