Paper money, Bonds and Shares

Lot 143:

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Philippines - Banco Español Filipino – Rare Historical Bill of Exchange Manila to Barcelona 1884 1000 Pesos Fuertes

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Start price: $500

Estimated price: $500 - $750

Buyer's premium:

Description

Step into the golden era of colonial banking in Asia with this extraordinarily scarce bill of exchange issued by the Banco Español Filipino, the forerunner of today’s Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)—the oldest bank in Southeast Asia. Dated August 30, 1884, this vibrant and ornate financial document represents the deep-rooted commercial ties between the Spanish Crown’s Pacific territories and the metropole, specifically Barcelona, Spain.

This bill was drawn at a time when the Philippines was under Spanish colonial rule, serving as a critical link in global trade between East and West. These types of documents played a vital role in international commerce, and this specific piece illustrates the formal and structured nature of 19th-century trans-Pacific banking.


The document is lavishly printed in pink and green hues, featuring intricate colonial motifs and bearing embossed stamps and hand signatures from high-ranking bank officers, including the Director and Chief Accountant. It’s marked as the “Segunda de Cambio” (second of exchange), meaning it was part of a triplicate set—making it exceedingly rare to find surviving independently, especially in such remarkable condition.

A true centerpiece for collectors of colonial, banking, or Southeast Asian history.

One of the few surviving financial instruments from the Banco Español Filipino before the turn of the 20th century.

An exceptional artifact from the twilight of Spanish rule in the Philippines, preceding the revolution and American colonization.
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