500 Soles de Oro

The 500 Soles de Oro series from this period sits in a stretch of Peruvian monetary history defined by chronic inflation — a structural problem that would eventually make the entire Soles de Oro system untenable, culminating in the 1985 introduction of the Inti at a rate of 1,000 to 1. The 500 denomination was among the highest in circulation during these years, which meant it moved through commercial channels rather than sitting in savings, and well-worn survivors are the rule.

Thomas De La Rue's work on Peruvian currency ran across multiple decades and denominations; the P#87 series reflects their mid-century intaglio production standards, printed in London throughout the issue's lifespan.