55
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Spanish Banknotes
Automatically generated translation
A beautiful collection of tests from the Generalitat of Catalonia, each one different from the other. A very interesting subject for scholars of this issue. Uncirculated/Uncirculated-.
In addition to the well-known issues issued by the Generalitat of Catalonia in 1936, engraved by Josep Obiols and Enric Cristófol Ricart Nin, there are also other unfinished and unissued banknotes prepared by both Catalan artists around the time of the first issue and later in the 1950s. The Generalitat's original plan was to supplement the fiduciary circulation of the Bank of Spain with its own issue in lower denominations (from 2.50 to 10 pesetas). The lower limit would fit the local issues, so deeply rooted in Catalan territory during the Civil War, in a certain sense as a political demand rather than pure necessity.
Regarding the 1950 issue, about which few details are known, the 50 and 500 peseta notes are the rarest. The 50-peseta note was engraved by Ricart Nin and the 500-peseta note by Obiols, using the same woodcut technique on boxwood and later transferred by heliogravure. The 50-peseta note depicts a matron with a caduceus (an allegory of Commerce) and another with a hammer (an allegory of Labor), while a ship and factory can be seen in the background. All of this represents the traditional industrial and commercial spirit of Catalonia. The reverse shows the Catalan coat of arms with the appellation's legend on a scroll and another at the bottom explaining its mandatory course in Catalonia. On an artistic level, the factory and ship motifs are repeated (and another steamship is added), and the entire piece is adorned with numerous fruits and plants, giving a sense of abundance. In other words, the message the banknote aims to convey is the prosperity of Catalonia thanks to trade and industry. An additional element of great interest is the bird that appears in the upper right corner of the reverse. It resembles a swallow or a swift and appears to be holding a key. Perhaps it was intended to express openness to a higher state, whether of collective consciousness, wealth, comfort, or similar, probably with an intentional and specific political meaning.
Via Stellae III online auction #110
Thursday, 10 April 2025 | 16:00
Lot 55
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$ 328
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£ 253
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CHF 289
Bids: 1 / Bidders: 1