Republic of Colombia — Series of 1904
One Peso · Two Pesos · Five Pesos · Ten Pesos · Twenty-Five Pesos · Fifty Pesos
Bogotá, April 1904
One Peso
Pick no.° 321
Historical and Issue Context
Part of the important national issue of 1904. It features a portrait of General Francisco de Paula Santander on the obverse and a tropical scene on the reverse. Printed by Waterlow & Sons of London, it represents the Republic's monetary consolidation after the era of private banks.
Two Pesos
Pick no.° 322
Historical and Issue Context
Brother of Un Peso from the same series. The obverse features a beautiful pastoral scene with sheep; The reverse shows the portrait of Santander. It reflects Colombian rural life at the beginning of the 20th century.
Five Pesos
Pick no.° 323
Historical and Issue Context
It stands out for the view of the Bogotá Cathedral on the obverse and the portrait on the reverse. One of the most attractive denominations in the 1904 series, printed in great detail by Waterlow & Sons.
Ten Pesos
Pick no.° 324
Historical and Issue Context
Military portrait on the obverse and an industrial/port scene on the reverse. It represents Colombia's economic and commercial progress in the early 20th century.
Twenty-five pesos
Pick no.° 325
Historical and Issue Context
Portrait of an independence hero on the obverse and an architectural view (church or historic building) on the reverse. One of the less common denominations in the series.
Fifty Pesos
Pick no.° 326
Historical and Issue Context
The highest denomination in this series. Portrait of a general on the obverse and allegory of Liberty with landscape on the reverse. Printed with excellent detail and color.
The 1904 Series in Context
The national issue of April 1904 brought together six denominations —from 1 to 50 Pesos— printed by Waterlow & Sons of London, with portraits of heroes, urban views and rural scenes that illustrate Colombian life at the beginning of the 20th century. It represents one of the most complete efforts of the young Republic to consolidate a unified national paper currency, in the years prior to the founding of the Bank of the Republic.
This series arrived at a time of crisis: the Thousand Days' War (1899–1902) had left the Colombian currency completely depreciated, with inflation that exceeded 300% annually.[1]. The monetary stabilization and the growth of coffee exports in the following years laid the foundations for the creation of the Bank of the Republic in 1923.
Source: Meisel-Roca, Adolfo.“Background of the Banco de la República, 1904–1922”(opens in a new tab), Cuadernos de Historia Económica n.° 37, Banco de la República — Sucursal Cartagena.