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Monday 6 December 2021

2141) 5,000 Peseta Banknote, Spain: This Banknote featuring "Cristobal Colon" (Christopher Colombus) was issued by the Banco de España (Bank of Spain), before it was replaced by the Euro in 2002: Date of issue: 12.10.1992:

2141) 5,000 Peseta Banknote, Spain:  This Banknote featuring "Cristobal Colon" (Christopher Colombus) was issued by the Banco de España (Bank of Spain), before it was replaced by the Euro in 2002: Date of issue: 12.10.1992:

The Peseta was the currency of Spain between 1868 and 2002. Along with the French franc, it was also a de facto currency used in Andorra (which had no national currency with legal tender).

The name of the currency comes from "pesseta", a Catalan diminutive form of the Catalan word "peça" (meaning "piece or fraction") or the Spanish "peso" ("weight", used as a synonym for coin). 

The word peseta has been known as early as 1737 to colloquially refer to the coin worth 2 reales provincial or 1⁄5 of a peso.

Coins denominated in "pesetas" were briefly issued in 1808 in Barcelona under French occupation.

Banco de España ("Bank of Spain"):

The Bank of Spain (Spanish: "Banco de España") is the Central Bank of Spain. 

Established in Madrid in 1782 by Charles III, today the bank is a member of the European System of Central Banks and is also Spain's national competent authority for banking supervision within the Single Supervisory Mechanism. Its activity is regulated by the Bank of Spain Autonomy Act.

On Spain's entry into the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union in 1994, the Banco de España became a member of the European System of Central Banks. The Bank of Spain holds 8.84% of the ECB's capital.

Banknotes - A Brief:

In 1874, the Bank of Spain (Banco de España in Spanish) introduced notes for 25 ₧, 50 ₧, 100 ₧, 500 ₧ and 1,000 ₧. 

Except for the 250 ₧ notes only issued in 1878, the denominations produced by the Central Bank of Spain did not change until the Civil War, when both the Republicans and Nationalists issued Bank of Spain notes.

In 1936, the Republicans issued 5 ₧ and 10 ₧ notes. The Ministry of Finance (Ministerio de Hacienda) introduced notes for 50 Cts, 1 ₧ and 2 ₧ in 1938, as well as issuing stamp money (consisting of postage or revenue stamps affixed to cardboard discs) in denominations of 5 Cts, 10 Cts, 15 Cts, 20 Cts, 25 Cts, 30 Cts, 40 Cts, 45 Cts, 50 Cts and 60 Cts.

Also, in 1936, the first Nationalist Bank of Spain issues were made in denominations of 5 ₧, 10 ₧, 25 ₧, 50 ₧, 100 ₧, 500 ₧ and 1,000 ₧. 1 ₧ and 2 ₧ notes were added in 1937

From the mid-1940s, denominations issued were 1 ₧, 5 ₧, 25 ₧, 50 ₧, 100 ₧, 500 ₧ and 1,000 ₧. The 1 ₧, 5 ₧, 25 ₧ and 50 ₧ were all replaced by coins by the late 1950s.

In 1978, 5,000 ₧ notes were introduced. 

The 100 ₧ note was replaced by a coin in 1982.

1,000 ₧ notes introduced in 1983, 200 ₧ in 1984 and 10,000 ₧ in 1987

The 200 ₧ and 500 ₧ notes were replaced by coins in 1986 and 1987.

The final series of banknotes were introduced between 1982 and 1987 and remained legal tender until the introduction of the Euro.

5000 Peseta Banknote:

This Banknote was the last one issued by The Bank of Spain, before introduction of the Euro and features Christopher Colon (Christopher Columbus) (on the Front) and an Astrolabe (on the Back).

About Christopher Colombus:

Christopher Columbus (31.10.1451 - 20.05.1506) was an Italian explorer and navigator who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, opening the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas. His expeditions, sponsored by the Monarchs of Spain, were the first European contact with the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.

He formulated a plan to seek a western sea passage to the East Indies, hoping to profit from the lucrative spice trade in India. 

Following Columbus's persistent lobbying to multiple kingdoms, Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II agreed to sponsor a journey west. 

Columbus left Castile in August 1492 with three ships and made landfall in the Americas on 12 October (ending the period of human habitation in the Americas now referred to as the pre-Columbian era). 

His landing place was an island in the Bahamas, known by its native inhabitants as "Guanahani". Columbus subsequently visited the islands now known as Cuba and Hispaniola, establishing a colony in what is now Haiti. 

Columbus returned to Castile in early 1493, bringing a number of captured natives with him. Word of his voyages and his brutality to the natives, soon spread throughout Europe.

Columbus made three further voyages to the Americas, exploring the Lesser Antilles in 1493, Trinidad and the northern coast of South America in 1498, and the eastern coast of Central America in 1502

Many of the names he gave to geographical features—particularly islands—are still in use. He also gave the name "Indios" ("Indians") to the indigenous peoples he encountered. 

The extent to which he was aware that the Americas were a wholly separate landmass is uncertain; he never clearly renounced his belief that he had reached the Far East. 

As a colonial governor, Columbus was accused by his contemporaries of significant brutality and was soon removed from the post.

 Historians have given great attention to the harms committed under his governance, particularly the beginning of the depopulation of Hispaniola's indigenous Taínos from mistreatment and European diseases, as well as their enslavement

Columbus's strained relationship with the Crown of Castile and its appointed colonial administrators in America led to his arrest and removal from Hispaniola in 1500, and later to protracted litigation over the benefits that he and his heirs claimed were owed to them by the crown

Columbus's expeditions inaugurated a period of exploration, conquest, and colonization that lasted for centuries, helping create the modern Western world. 

The transfers between the Old World and New World that followed his first voyage are known as the Columbian exchange.

The Banknote:

On the Front of the 5000 Peseta Banknote is seen a portrait of Christobal Colon (Christopher Columbus), the ships of his fleet (in the background) and Colon on seashore with a companion.

On the Back of the 5000 Peseta Banknote is depicted an astrolabe at lower centre in vertical format. 

The dimensions of this Banknote are 146.00 mm x 71.00 mm and its  colour is Blue, Brown, light Blue, Orange and violet. 

This Banknote was issued on 12.10.1992.

About an Astrolabe:

An astrolabe (Ancient Greek) is an ancient astronomical instrument that was a handheld model of the universe. Its various functions also make it an elaborate inclinometer and an analogue calculation device capable of working out several kinds of problems in astronomy. 

In its simplest form it is a metal disc with a pattern of wires, cutouts, and perforations that allows a user to calculate astronomical positions precisely. 

Historically used by astronomers, it is able to measure the altitude above the horizon of a celestial body, day or night; it can be used to identify stars or planets, to determine local latitude given local time (and vice versa), to survey, or to triangulate. It was used in classical antiquity, the European Middle Ages and the Age of Discovery for all these purposes.

The astrolabe's importance comes not only from the early developments into the study of astronomy, but is also effective for determining latitude on land or calm seas. Although it is less reliable on the heaving deck of a ship in rough seas, the mariner's astrolabe was developed to solve that problem.




The above Banknote is from the collection of my friend Jayant Biswas. Banknote scanned and post researched & written by Rajeev Prasad)





Interesting links to posts on Portugal and Spanish Coins and postage stamps on this blog:

For interesting posts on Coins and stamps of Spain, please visit the following links:






9) "Nacional Museo del Prado", Spain: Celebrating the Bicentenary milestone (1819-2019): Commemorative Silver Coins of 30 Euros issued by Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre - Casa Real de la Moneda on 20.11.2019: Coins minted by the Madrid Mint





















For interesting posts on Coins and stamps of Portugal, please visit the following links:





6) "The Joker", Portugal: Portugal Post has issued a set of four stamps featuring "The Joker"character of DC Comics, who is an archenemy of the "Batman": Date of Stamp issue: 31.03.2020

7) Portuguese Numismatics (1st Group): A set of four Stamps in the values of N20g, A20g, E20g and 120g issued by CTT Correios (Portuguese Post) in partnership with INCM ("Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda (the "Portuguese Mint & Official Printing Office") depicting coins from various periods of history: Date od Stamp set issue: 22.04.2020











The "Age of Discovery" Escudo Banknote Series:



For posts on coins issued under the Eurostar Coin Programme, please visit the following links:

6) Leonardo da Vinci, France: The latest issue from the Monnaie de Paris, France highlights him on the latest Europa Silver Star Coin Programme issued by the Paris Mint: Coin issue date: 03/2019


7) i) "Europa Coin Programme" or the "European Star Programme" or the "Eurostar Programme" ii) Central Bank of Malta issues 50 Euro (Gold) and 10 Euro (Silver) Proof Coins featuring "Architecture and artwork of the Gothic Era" in 05/2020 (which is a part of the wider programme focussing on the Ages of Europe: Date of Coins issue: 08.05.2020





6 comments:

  1. Vinod Khurana has commented:
    "Interesting information."

    ReplyDelete
  2. Santosh Khanna has commented:
    "Thanks for sharing this interesting information."

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rsanker Sharma has commented:
    "Great post."

    ReplyDelete