COLOMBIA. Banco de la República. 500 Pesos Oro. July 20, 1942. P-391a.The first year of issue of this high denomination, American Bank Note Company design type. These are the first 500 Peso notes since the limited printing for the 1923 Kemmerer issue. Any example of these early date 500 Peso notes are difficult to find, but high grade issued notes are apparently impossible. Decades of searching yielded no examples better than Very Fine of these early dates. Olive face with sculptured profile of Bolívar at the right end. Standard style back in orange. Series G; printed in red along with the serial numbers. Six-digit serial number 021184. Normal circulation and still attractive. An Uncirculated note is priced in Pick, but we can’t imagine one existing. The date is not listed on the foundational Yasha Beresiner Colombia listings published in 1973 by Stanley Gibbons. Some minor rust is noted, but it is petty. Very underrated and a significant first-year type. Deserving of a realization upwards of estimate.
