This note is one of a few left in the world making it very rare. Even rarer is the fact that this actual specimen is the oldest known in any private collection. (Issue number 441587)
This amazing note was first issued on March 27 1799 in 10,000 Peso Stirling by renowned registrar of Bero of London and the author of the proclamation of January 31st 1801 on paper currency and bonds, Ignacio Antonio Ribeiro. (A prize signature itself)
It was first cashed in 1802 at the beginning of the WAR OF THE ORANGES and then being passed from hand to hand for the next twelve years. All the while this note was funding the former owners through three separate yet intertwining wars. The ORANGE, the War of the Kings or war of Brother’s and the Peninsular Wars.( Napoleons conquest of Spain and Portugal under his brother Joseph Bonaparte: occupying General of Lusitania Legion Murat)
As such a rare item it would be valued at no less than $1000 US ($990 AUD) A fantastic addition to any banknote, historical or military collection.
HISTORICAL NOTES:
Stamp Dates:
MAIO: May- 1802 & 1814.
MARCO: March- 1807.
JUNHO/JULHO: June or July-1803. (common tape cover prevents a better assessment)
OUTUBRO: October- 1804.
NOVEMBRO: November- 1805.
DEZEMBRO: December- 1806.
Also under close inspection are two embossed WAR OF THE BROTHERS stamps of the Cauza republic the first to be seen outside a museum. And four clear yet unidentified in my research thus far bankers signatures along with signatures themselves, of Treasurer and noted economist Joaq Lore deLoura and Ignacio Antonio Ribeiro.
FUN FACTS:
Marco Tres e Quatro is on the 3-4th of March, it is the festival of the Partridge that should have four eggs by now, the new spring. An old adage has it that you should give all of your paper or possessions to a bride to be.
This actual Note was stamped by the seal of KING TEDRO IV in 1826 when his cabinet took it out of circulation.
Napoléon actually tried to bankrupt the Spanish and Portuguese by importing cheap materials and counterfeit currency when he tried to introduce the Franc.
A citizen that presented this note was scrutinized heavily during the Peninsular wars in particular as spy’s of the French persuasion were known to carry many 10,000 and 1,000 peso Sterling notes.
The war of the brothers was a futile exercise as neither Phillip nor Joaq held power for more than two running years.
Article written by Benjamin Alan Mitchell Fahy (Historical Manger of Historical and Military research- AustralasianBanknotes.com.au
Copyright: AustralasianBanknotes.com.au. 2012.