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Permanent identifier: NF.colombia.banco-de-la-republica-1-peso-specimen

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Bogotá, Colombia · Specimens from the Gold and Silver Peso Era

The Bank of the Republic

One Peso Oro (1929) and One Peso Plata (1932), specimens with “SPECIMEN” overprint

Obverse (top) and reverse (bottom) — Notofilia.com Collection

Both copies belong to the first years of the Bank of the Republic, founded in 1923, and share the same reverse with the profile of Liberty engraved by the American Bank Note Company. — specimens were prepared with numbering in zeros and the red overprint “SPECIMEN”— as reference samples for correspondent banks and archives, never put into circulation.

One Peso Oro · July 20, 1929 · Series R
Denomination One Peso Oro
Date July 20, 1929 (Series R)
Obverse Azul sobre fondo multicolor con intrincados guilloches. A la izquierda, óvalo con el portrait of general Francisco de Paula Santander junto a una figura alegórica masculina de pie (progreso o libertad). A la derecha, busto militar de Simón Bolívar. Roseta central con una gran cifra “1” y el texto “UN PESO ORO”. Overprint roja “SPECIMEN” en diagonal sobre el centro. Numbering en ceros (000000). Signatures de “Gerente” y “Secretario”. Imprint: American Bank Note Company. Bogotá, Colombia, July 20, 1929, Series R.
Reverse Dark blue, almost black. Elaborate symmetrical borders with large numerals “1”. Central circular medallion with Liberty (female profile). Text: “BANCO DE LA REPÚBLICA · BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA · 1 UN PESO ORO 1”.
Printer American Bank Note Company (ABNC)
Dimensions Aprox. 140 × 70 mm
Status Gem uncirculated / superior, con las perforaciones de cancelación (punch holes) características de los especímenes (dos perforaciones visibles). Paper fresco, tintas vibrantes y grabado nítido.
Rarity Escaso en formato specimen. Forma parte de la larga serie de One Peso Oro (1929–1954) que documenta la transición de Colombia entre patrones monetarios.
Catalog Reference Pick #P-380s (variante); listados estándar de la serie 1929–1954 de One Peso Oro

Un specimen visualmente sobresaliente de la larga serie colombiana de One Peso Oro. Con los retratos duales de dos próceres clave de la independencia, Santander y Bolívar, esta pieza ejemplifica el alto nivel de artesanía y seguridad de American Bank Note Company durante la era del Peso Oro. Poco común en formato specimen, es una pieza ideal para coleccionistas de notafilia colombiana y banknotes latinoamericanos.

Denomination One Peso Plata (Certificado de Plata)
Date January 1, 1932
Obverse Verde sobre fondo multicolor. Óvalo central con el portrait of Francisco de Paula Santander de perfil hacia la derecha. Grandes cifras “1” a los lados. El texto incluye “BANCO DE LA REPÚBLICA · CERTIFICADO DE PLATA · UN PESO DE PLATA” y la cláusula de redención “CAMBIABLE EN EL BANCO DE LA REPÚBLICA POR IGUAL VALOR EN MONEDAS LEGALES DE PLATA”. Sobreimpresiones rojas “SPECIMEN” y numeración en ceros (000000). Signatures: Julio Caro (Gerente) y Mariano Ospina Vásquez (Secretario). Bogotá, January 1, 1932.
Reverse Deep green. Ornamental border with large numerals “1”. Central circular vignette with Liberty (female profile facing right). Text: “BANCO DE LA REPÚBLICA · BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA · CERTIFICADO DE PLATA”.
Printer American Bank Note Company (ABNC)
Dimensions Aprox. 155 × 75 mm
Status From regular to gem uncirculated, with cancellation perforations (two perforations visible). Outstanding color depth and detail.
Rarity Issue de Peso Plata de corta duración; los especímenes son particularmente codiciados.
Catalog Reference Pick #P-382s; The Banknote Book B932
One Peso Plata · January 1, 1932

A classic 1932 specimen from the short-lived Silver Certificate series. With portraits of General Santander and Liberty, this note reflects Colombia’s bimetallic monetary policy in the early 1930s. Highly sought after in specimen format for its elegant ABNC engraving and its historical importance in the evolution of Colombian currency.

Obverse (top) and reverse (bottom) — Notofilia.com Collection

Specimens as a Banking Tool

Numbering in zeros and red overlay:Both bills show the serial number “00000” and the word “SPECIMEN” printed in red ink over the design —marks that prevent their use as legal tender, along with the punch holes that distinguish them. sample specimens.

Purpose:ABNC prepared these specimens for distribution to correspondent banks, exchange houses, and international reference archives, allowing each issue’s design and security features to be verified before —or in parallel with— actual circulation.

Gold and Silver: Two Monetary Policies

The “Peso Oro” of 1929 and the “Peso Plata” (Silver Certificate) of 1932 document the two aspects of the interwar Colombian bimetallic system: the first nominally backed in gold within the long series 1929–1954, and the second as a certificate convertible into silver coin, a short-term issue typical of the monetary policy of the early 1930s. Seen together, both specimens portray the same heroes —Santander, Bolívar and Libertad— under two monetary regimes different, just three years and a change of management later.

Sources

How to cite this record

Notofilia. “The Bank of the Republic”. Virtual Collection (NF.colombia.banco-de-la-republica-1-peso-specimen). https://notofilia.com/en/collection/colombia/banco-de-la-republica-1-peso-specimen/ (accessed 2026-08-29).

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