| Slot: |
5 Cordobas Decreto 27.4.1972 P122 |
| Item: |
Nicaragua, Banco Central
5 Córdobas 1972 |
| Grade: |
PMG 65 EPQ |
| Cert #: |
1821155-033
|
Owner Comments
These banknotes of Cinco (5) Córdobas were issued under two separate decrees.
The first the Executive Decree 73-MEIC approved on the 27th of April 1972 authorised the issuance of a new Series C banknotes. For the 5 Córdobas there was 7,000,000 banknotes authorised with a total face value of C$35,000,000
These notes feature a light green background with the effigy of Cacique Nicarao on the obverse and a trabajador (worker) on the reverse. The serial number commence with 0000001 until completion (7000000).
There was a second Executive Decree 76-MEIC approved on the 13th of March 1974 that authorised a further issuance of another 10,000,000 Cinco Córdobas banknotes with a total face value of C$50,000,000
These banknotes will continue from the original first issuance of serial numbers from 7000001 - through to completion (17000000). This has created a variety of both seven (this example) & eight digit serial numbers (as seen in the 1st set).
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| Slot: |
50 Cordobas Decreto 20.2.1978 P130 |
| Item: |
Nicaragua, Banco Central
50 Córdobas 1978 |
| Grade: |
PMG 66 EPQ |
| Cert #: |
8065669-051
|
Owner Comments
For the 1978 banknotes of "Serie D" the central Bank had initially authorised for the new series to include 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 & 1000 Cordoba denominations. However under the executive decree 300-MEIC approved on the 20th of February 1978 authorised the printing of only the 20 & 50 Cordoba denomination banknotes. With a total of 11 million banknotes with a face value of C$325,000,000.
For the 50 Cordobas banknotes there were a total of 3,500,000 printed with the serial number starting with 0000001 and onward. The front of the banknotes feature the effigy of Maximo Jerez a Nicaraguan politician and military leader from the mid 19th century. On the reverse of the note shows "ganaderia" cattle farming.
There are two different varieties for this issue which are listed in the banknote book but are not recognised in the standard catalogue. These apply to both the 20 & 50 cordobas issued in 1978, it has to do with a dot that is present or not after the third signature. This particular banknote does not have the dot. The printing of the 3rd signature I believe may have taken place at two different sites or possibly on two separate machines, and this may explain the differences. I have also seen many of these banknotes where the position of the signature is not inline with the other signatures or it being on an angle.
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| Slot: |
50 Cordobas Resolution of 6.8.1984 P140 |
| Item: |
Nicaragua, Banco Central
50 Córdobas 1984 - Printer: TDLR |
| Grade: |
PMG 66 EPQ |
| Cert #: |
8066946-003
|
Owner Comments
These series F notes continued on the same design from the previous 2nd emission series E notes.
This particular note has a very low 2 digit serial number (40).
I believe there was a total of 13 million of these banknotes were produced. A number were later overprinted to produced the 50,000 cordoba note (P148).
On the obverse is Comandante Carlos Fonseca Amador he was one of the founders of the Frente Sandinista and was killed in 1976 3 years prior to the Sandinistas taking power in 1979. His portrait was used on the previous issue 50 Cordoba notes and the 10 Cordoba note from 1988.
On the reverse of the banknote is a scene depicting the day of liberation (dia de liberacion) on the 19th of July 1979 showing a large crowd of Sandinista sympathisers celebrating in front of the Cathedral in Managua. This same design would be used on the 1988 1000 Cordobas banknotes also.
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| Slot: |
100 Cordobas Resolution of 6.8.1984 P141 |
| Item: |
Nicaragua, Banco Central
100 Córdobas 1984 (ND 1986) - Printer: TDLR |
| Grade: |
PMG 66 EPQ |
| Cert #: |
8066946-004
|
Owner Comments
These series F notes continued on the same design from the previous 2nd emission series E notes.
I believe there was a total of 11,850,000 of these banknotes were produced through two separate decrees.
The obverse of the banknote features Jose Dolores Estrada a Nicaraguan National Hero that was in charge of an army that helped defeat the filibuster army of William Walker in the battle at San Jacinto Hacienda in 1856. He was featured on the 100 Cordobas banknotes from 1962 through to 1984, then the 50 Cordoba banknote from 1988, as well as the 50,000 and 10 million Cordobas notes from 1989/90. And finally on the 2002/06 500 Cordobas banknotes.
The reverse of the note features the National flower the Sacjuanjoche.
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| Slot: |
20 Cordobas 1985 (1988) Issue P152 |
| Item: |
Nicaragua, Banco Central
20 Córdobas 1985 (ND 1988) |
| Grade: |
PMG 66 EPQ |
| Cert #: |
2507774-004
|
Owner Comments
These new issue notes were part of the then Sandinista covert Central Bank operation called Bertha (Operacion Berta), this was in part to help stem the problem of hyper inflation but was also a huge blow to those that held the old currency particularly those in business or had farms and dealt with large sums of cash. These notes are dated 1985 but weren't actually introduced into circulation until the president announced a decree demonetising the old Cordoba on a Sunday which happened to be Valentines Day 14th of February 1988. The general public only had 3 days in which to change over the old currency at official change tables set up throughout the country. The exchange rate was set at 1000 old cordobas for 1 new cordoba and there was a maximum of 10,000,000 old cordobas that could be exchanged per person or business entity. Those that held more than that amount were left with worthless pieces of paper that could be surrender to the central bank for nothing or could be kept as souvenirs, I recall reading a story that some business owners actually got together and had organised a bonfire to burn the old currency!
These notes that were issued have several different prefixes from FA, FB, FC, FD and the replacement notes were ZA. None of these prefixes were used for a 500,000 cordoba overprint note (p163) only unused prefixes FE, FF and ZB (replacement notes). I don't have any information on how many were produced but its quite possible there was up to 10,000,000 for each prefix (as I have seen serial numbers from 0-9) so quite possibly up to 40 million were produced and issued.
These banknotes feature designs from previous 20 Cordoba issues. The obverse features Commander German Pomares Ordoñez a revolutionary and considered a national hero. He was one of the founders of the Frente Sandinista (FSLN), he fought against the ruling Somoza government and was killed only months before the Sandinistas claimed victory. The reverse of the banknote features a demonstration on agrarian reform with a banner that translates to "We are not birds to live off the air, we are not fish to live off the sea, we are men to live off the land".
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| Slot: |
500 Cordobas 1985 (1988) Issue P155 |
| Item: |
Nicaragua, Banco Central
500 Córdobas 1985 (ND 1988) |
| Grade: |
PMG 65 EPQ |
| Cert #: |
2507290-020
|
Owner Comments
These new issue notes were part of the then Sandinista covert Central Bank operation called Bertha (Operacion Berta), this was in part to help stem the problem of hyper inflation but was also a huge blow to those that held the old currency particularly those in business or had farms and dealt with large sums of cash. These notes are dated 1985 but weren't actually introduced into circulation until the president announced a decree demonetising the old Cordoba on a Sunday which happened to be Valentines Day 14th of February 1988. The general public only had 3 days in which to change over the old currency at official change tables set up throughout the country. The exchange rate was set at 1000 old cordobas for 1 new cordoba and there was a maximum of 10,000,000 old cordobas that could be exchanged per person or business entity. Those that held more than that amount were left with worthless pieces of paper that could be surrender to the central bank for nothing or could be kept as souvenirs, I recall reading a story that some business owners actually got together and had organised a bonfire to burn the old currency!
These notes that were issued have only a couple of different prefixes FA & FB and the replacement notes were ZA. I don't have any information on how many were produced but its quite possible there was up to 10,000,000 for each prefix (as I have seen serial numbers from 0-9) so quite possibly up to 20 million were produced and issued.
The obverse of the poet as well all previously issued 500 Cordoba banknotes features the portrait of legendary poet Ruben Dario. This would be the last 500 Cordoba banknote he would be featured on as he later is seen on the 100 Cordobas notes from 1990 onwards. The obverse of the note shows a teacher in a classroom full of children with the title "Campaña Nacional de Alfabetizacion" or the National Campaign of Alphabetisation. The blackboard displays words that were used in Sandinista government propaganda at the time:
SANDINO VIVE
Sandino vive
NO PASARAN
No pasaran
LUCHAMOS
PARA VENCER
in English:
SANDINO LIVES
Sandino Lives
THEY SHALL NOT PASS
They shall not pass
WE FIGHT TO WIN
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| Slot: |
1 Centavo 1990; 1991-92 ND Issues P167 |
| Item: |
Nicaragua, Banco Central
1 Centavo ND (1991) |
| Grade: |
PMG 66 EPQ |
| Cert #: |
8042871-061
|
Owner Comments
The Centavo banknotes from the new 1990 Cordoba Oro release was the first time fractional centavo banknotes had been used in Nicaragua since they were phased out and replaced with coins over 60 years prior in 1939. The Un (1) Centavo banknote is the lowest denomination banknote that Nicaragua had ever produced. The previous lowest denomination was 10 Centavos de Cordobas issued from 1912-1938. There was however 5 centavos issued but under the previous currency (pesos pre-1912) and there was also a provisional overprint banknote that was valued at 4 centavos de cordoba.
The obverse of all of the centavo notes feature Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba, the Nicaraguan currency's namesake. He was a Spanish explorer and the founder of the cities of Leon and Granada in Nicaragua. The reverse features the Nicaraguan coat of arms.
These banknotes were of a separate design from the other banknotes issued in 1990 printed by Harrison & Sons Limited one of three printers used for this issue of banknotes.
There was a total of 50 million 1 centavo banknotes produced with prefixes A/A through to A/E with 10 million banknotes in each prefix. The 1 centavo was the only banknote of the series that doesn't have a signature variation. All banknotes were issued with the signature of the president of the Central Bank Francisco Mayorga.
These banknotes were phased out with the introduction of centavo coinage in 1994, however I do recall receiving these banknotes at a bank branch in the mid 2000s. So they were still being used within the banking system over 10 years later.
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| Slot: |
50 Cordobas 1990; 1991-92 ND Issues P177 |
| Item: |
Nicaragua, Banco Central
50 Córdobas ND (1990-91) - Printer: CBNC |
| Grade: |
PMG 64 |
| Cert #: |
2079836-015
|
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| Slot: |
20 Cordobas 2006 Issue P197 |
| Item: |
Nicaragua, Banco Central
20 Córdobas 2006 |
| Grade: |
PMG 66 EPQ |
| Cert #: |
1821131-057
|
Owner Comments
These 2006 series B notes were carried over from the previous 2002 series A note designs.
I don't have exact figures but I believe there was possibly 15-20 million of these notes produced based on the serial numbers I have seen for this issue.
The obverse of the banknote features former Nicaraguan President Jose Santos Zelaya, who ruled over Nicaragua from 1893 to 1909. He was featured on the 20 Cordoba banknotes from 1997 through to 2006 and on the early 1900s issue 5 Pesos notes.
The reverse of the note features a humble fishing boat in a beach scene from the Southern Atlantic Coast (Caribbean Coast).
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| Slot: |
100 Cordobas 2006 Issue P199 |
| Item: |
Nicaragua, Banco Central
100 Córdobas 2006 |
| Grade: |
PMG 66 EPQ |
| Cert #: |
1821154-099
|
Owner Comments
These 2006 series B notes were carried over from the previous 2002 series A note designs.
I don't have exact figures but I believe there was up to 30 million of these notes produced based on the serial numbers I have seen for this issue.
The obverse of the note has the effigy of the legendary Nicaraguan poet Ruben Dario. It continues the tradition and will be the last 100 Cordoba banknote he is featured on, having previously featured on multiple issues from 1945 through to 1985 on the 500 Cordobas banknotes. He was also on the releases of the 100 Cordoba banknotes from 1990 through to 2006, and also features on the 1000 Cordoba Commemorative issue in 2016.
The reverse of the banknote features the Ruben Dario National Theatre as previously featured on the 1972 500 Cordobas banknotes.
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| Slot: |
500 Cordobas 2006 Issue P200 |
| Item: |
Nicaragua, Banco Central
500 Córdobas 2006 |
| Grade: |
PMG 65 EPQ |
| Cert #: |
1723854-013
|
Owner Comments
The 2006 500 Cordobas banknote continues the same design from the previous 2002 series. This time with updated signatures and the prefix is now B from the previous A.
These particular banknotes are one of my favourites and were one of the reasons I started collecting Nicaragua in the first place, I was living in Nicaragua during this period when they were circulating and I always made sure I had a few of these in my wallet! I loved the vivid reddish pink colours with the hologram security thread running down the RH side.
The obverse of the banknote features Jose Dolores Estrada a Nicaraguan National Hero that was in charge of an army that helped defeat the filibuster army of William Walker in the battle at San Jacinto Hacienda (featured on the reverse of the note) in 1856. He was previously featured on the 100 Cordobas banknotes from 1962 through to 1984. The San Jacinto Haciendo was later featured on the obverse of the new 1000 Cordobas banknotes from 2017 onwards.
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| Slot: |
10 Cordobas 2007 Polymer Issue P201 |
| Item: |
Nicaragua, Banco Central
10 Córdobas 2007 (ND 2012) |
| Grade: |
PMG 67 EPQ |
| Cert #: |
8041504-004
|
Owner Comments
The 2007 10 Cordobas banknote together with the 20 Cordobas banknotes were Nicaragua's first emissions in polymer, these undated notes were actually released to the public on the 14th of May 2009. The 10 Cordoba note in the new series replaces the now ageing 2002 Serie A paper banknotes as well as a very short lived 10 Cordobas coin that only lasted 6-12 months before it was withdrawn from circulation.
There are 5 known variations:
The first released notes which feature the serial number prefix A/1 and have the number 10 embossed in the transparent window, these are identified as the Pick 201a I don't have the exact figures but I have seen examples in the 24 millions range (I am guessing there was between 25-30 million). The Central Bank initially put C$44.6 million Cordobas into circulation accounting for 4,460,000 banknotes of 10 cordobas.
The replacement notes for this same release which have the serial number prefix A/R and the same embossed 10 in the transparent window and are pick 201r1. The third variety which is this one featured here is the second release with the same serial number prefix A/1 these would be continued on from the first emission from 25-30 million and onward. I have seen examples in the 30 millions all the way through to 99 million + the later seen in circulation in early to mid 2019. These notes are identical except that the 10 is now in white letters in the transparent window, these are identified as Pick 201b. The replacement notes have the same prefix as the first emission A/R and the difference now being the same number 10 is in white print in the transparent window these are identified as Pick 201r2.
A fifth variety was discovered by a fellow Nicaragua collector in some change he received at the supermarket in May 2019. This time the notes were the same as the second emission however the prefix was now A/2. This was an interesting discovery as these notes although they were still in circulation another whole series had replaced these notes several years prior. I believe the central bank had a large stockpile of these notes that hadn't circulated and had decided to put them into circulation in 2018/19.
The colour green is the continuation of the previous 10 Cordoba banknotes dating back to 1990. The obverse of the banknotes feature the Fortress of the Immaculate Conception (Castillo Inmaculada Concepcion). This fortress is a World Heritage listed site that was originally constructed in 1675 along the banks of the San Juan River in El Castillo in Southern Nicaragua. The purpose of this fort was to protect the city of Granada from Pirate attacks. A scene depicting the Fortress is also present on the reverse of the 50 Cordobas banknotes from series A & B from 2002 & 2006.
The reverse features Hacienda San Jacinto a farm located in the municipality of Tipitapa about 30 mins away from the capital of Managua. This farm was home to the battle of San Jacinto which took place on the 14th of September 1856. This scene was first depicted on the Series C 10 Cordobas banknote from 1972. Later it was featured on both the series A & B 2002 & 2006 500 Cordobas banknotes. The same Hacienda was also featured on the short lived emergency issue notes of 1989-90 on the 50,000 Cordobas and 10 million Cordobas with a slightly different design.
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| Slot: |
20 Cordobas 2007 Polymer Issue P202 |
| Item: |
Nicaragua, Banco Central "Replacement"
20 Córdobas RB2 2007 (ND 2012) - Polymer |
| Grade: |
PMG 67 EPQ |
| Cert #: |
8058540-004
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Owner Comments
The 2007 20 Cordobas banknote together with the 10 Cordobas banknotes were Nicaragua's first emissions in polymer, these undated notes were actually released to the public on the 14th of May 2009. The 20 Cordoba note in the new series replaces the now ageing 2002 Serie A paper banknotes.
There are 4 listed variations as well as several other variations that aren't listed:
The first released notes which feature the serial number prefix A/1 and have the number 20 embossed in the transparent window, these are identified as the Pick 202a I don't have the exact figures but I have seen examples in the 14 millions range (I am guessing there was between 15-20 million as I have seen example of 202b from 23 millions onwards). The Central Bank initially put C$85.4 million Cordobas into circulation accounting for 4,270,000 banknotes of 20 cordobas.
This example shown is the replacement note for this same release which have the serial number prefix A/R and the same embossed 20 in the transparent window and are identified as pick 202r1.
The next variety is the the second release with the same serial number prefix A/1 but with the number 20 in white in the transparent window these would be continued on from the first emission from 15-20 million and onward. The replacement notes for the second issue have the prefix Z/1 with the same number 20 in white text in the transparent window, these are identified as pick 202r2.
There is some further unlisted variations that have been discovered on the 2nd emission. What appears on the later regular issue and also replacement notes is a shaded rectangular box surrounding both of the serial numbers. Also there was an issue with several of these later notes that the serial numbers were easily removed causing some confusion in a small town of Nicaragua that reported having many notes that had no serial numbers as the ink literally could just rub off on your fingertips! A fellow collector has also identified some differences in the signatures also.
The 20 Cordobas banknote pays tribute to the culture of the Caribbean on the less populated East Coast of Nicaragua. A modest hut from the "Costa Caribe" Caribbean Coast is on the obverse as well as a girl pounding grain as the transparent watermark. The reverse shows the traditional "Palo de Mayo" Maypole dance a traditional Afro-Caribbean dance that dates back to the 1800s.
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| Slot: |
50 Cordobas 2007 Polymer Issue P203 |
| Item: |
Nicaragua, Banco Central "Replacement"
50 Córdobas RC2 2007 |
| Grade: |
PMG 67 EPQ |
| Cert #: |
8068429-004
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| Slot: |
100 Cordobas 2007 Polymer Issue P204 |
| Item: |
Nicaragua, Banco Central
100 Córdobas 2007 (ND 2012) |
| Grade: |
PMG 68 EPQ |
| Cert #: |
1960823-014
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Owner Comments
These all new designed 100 Cordobas banknotes were introduced into circulation on the 1st of June 2009. There was a slightly updated design to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the currency the Cordoba (P208) which features a wider security thread, as well as the words 1912 - 2012 Centenario del Cordoba as a watermark on the top LH side.
The notes had a prefix A/1 whilst the replacement/star notes had the prefix A/R. For the second emission this was changed to Z/1 (P208*).
I am unsure on the actual emission for this series, but I estimate it to be around 30-40 million. I have seen notes up to 28*** and in the second emission I have seen notes from 49*** onwards.
The obverse of the banknote features the Ruben Dario Monument located in the "old downtown area" in Managua, near Lake Managua. The Statue was inaugurated on the 24th of September 1933 and over the years fell into disrepair. It was fully restored in 1998.
The reverse of the note features the famous Catedral de Leon (Leon Cathedral) It is the largest Cathedral in all of Central America, it is a World Heritage Listed site by UNESCO that was built between 1747 and 1817. In the crypts below the cathedral are the remains of several prominent Nicaraguans including Miguel Larreynaga and Ruben Dario among others. It was later to be featured on the 500 Cordoba notes.
As at October 2020 there was a total of 23 notes graded by PMG. This note is the highest graded at 68 EPQ with 5 graded in 67 EPQ with the others graded from 66 EPQ down to a 25. There is a total of 7 replacement notes graded in grades 65 & 66 EPQ.
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