Description and research notes
Issued banknote of the Banco Oriental of Uruguay, dated 1 de Agosto de 1867 and printed by the American Bank Note Company in New York. This example represents the final standardized production state of the Banco Oriental 10 Pesos = 1 Doblón de Oro Sellado issue, marking the full transition from manual authorization to mechanically reproduced signatures.
The obverse design remains consistent with all 1867 Banco Oriental Doblón notes, featuring allegorical female figures representing Commerce and Abundance at left, the national coat of arms at right, and a prominent central orange guilloche bearing the inscription “UN DOBLÓN DE ORO SELLADO.” This visual continuity underscores the reuse of the original engraved plates throughout all authorization phases of the issue.
Serial number 74487 is distinguished by a single engraved facsimile circulation signature placed at the right side of the designated signature area. This placement exactly matches the original position used for the earliest handwritten signatures, indicating a deliberate return to the initial spatial layout once the authorization system was stabilized. The facsimile signature replaced manual signing to improve uniformity, speed, and administrative efficiency.
The adoption of a printed signature marks the final stage in the Banco Oriental’s evolution of authorization practice for this denomination. Following a brief period of dual handwritten signatures and a subsequent centered single-signature adjustment, the bank reverted to the original right-side format while eliminating the need for manual application entirely. This configuration remained in use for the remainder of the issue’s production.
This example is identified as plate position pp C. While Paper Money Guaranty does not formally define plate position distinctions within the Pick catalog, such annotations document internal production differences and demonstrate that distinct plate positions were employed across successive authorization states.
Cataloged as Pick S385a together with all other issued 1867 Banco Oriental 10 Pesos Doblón notes, this facsimile-signature variant is the most frequently encountered form of the issue. Its greater survival rate reflects higher production volume and longer circulation life compared to the earlier handwritten and transitional states.
Within a complete four-state study of the Banco Oriental Doblón series, serial 74487 serves as the terminal reference point, illustrating the conclusion of the bank’s shift from individualized manual control toward standardized mechanized currency production.