Banknote Billet Uruguay 500 pesos José Gervasio Artigas, général 1975

Remarks:

Plis de comptage

This 500 Pesos banknote was issued in 1975 in Uruguay, during a period marked by significant monetary reforms in the country. It belongs to Series A and features the distinctive characteristic of being overprinted with the value N$ 0.50, i.e. 0.50 Nuevo Peso. This overprint illustrates the monetary transition that Uruguay underwent when the Peso was replaced by the Nuevo Peso, at a conversion rate of 1,000 old pesos to 1 new peso.

The banknote features the portrait of José Gervasio Artigas, a major historical figure in Uruguay and national hero. A renowned general, he is considered the founding father of the Uruguayan nation and the principal architect of its independence in the early 19th century. His representation on Uruguayan banknotes is recurrent, reflecting the symbolic importance he holds in the country's national identity.

The overprint applied to this banknote constitutes a distinctive numismatic element. It was affixed directly onto the original 500 Pesos note in order to assign it an equivalent face value in Nuevo Peso (N$), thereby making the note valid in the new monetary system without requiring a complete reprint. This type of procedure was common in countries facing devaluation or monetary reform, allowing for a practical and economical transition.

This banknote therefore represents a dual historical and numismatic interest: it documents both Uruguay's monetary policy in the 1970s and the central role accorded to José Gervasio Artigas in national symbolism.