Guinea-Bissau 500 Pesos 1990 Pick 12 UNC Banknote
The Guinea-Bissau 500 Pesos 1990 banknote (Pick 12) was issued by the Banco Nacional da Guiné-Bissau on 1 March 1990 as part of the country’s third banknote series. It honours Francisco Mendes, Guinea-Bissau’s first Prime Minister after independence, while the reverse illustrates a scene from the Atlantic slave trade, acknowledging a significant chapter in West African history.
Offered in UNC (Uncirculated) condition, this note is an excellent addition to African and historical world banknote collections.
Historical Background
Following independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau introduced several new banknote series celebrating national heroes and the country’s history. The 1990 Peso series was among the last issued before the country adopted the West African CFA Franc in 1997, making these notes the final generation of Guinea-Bissau’s national currency.
Technical Specifications
- Country: Guinea-Bissau
- Denomination: 500 Pesos
- Year: 1990
- Date: 1 March 1990
- Pick Number: P-12
- Condition: Uncirculated (UNC)
- Issuer: Banco Nacional da Guiné-Bissau
- Currency: Peso
- Material: Paper
- Dimensions: 134 × 65.5 mm
- Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company Ltd. (United Kingdom)
Obverse
The obverse features:
- Portrait of Francisco Mendes
- Traditional ancestral male and female figures
- National coat of arms
- Flame registration device
- Denomination numerals and serial numbers
Francisco Mendes served as Guinea-Bissau’s first Prime Minister after independence and remains one of the country’s most respected political figures.
Reverse
The reverse depicts:
- Historic slave trading scene
- Sailing ships anchored offshore
- Coastal landscape
- Decorative security patterns
- Large denomination numerals
The design recalls Guinea-Bissau’s role during the Atlantic slave trade and serves as a reminder of an important period in West African history.
Security Features
- Repeating BCG watermark
- Solid embedded security thread with printed “BCG”
- Fine guilloche engraving
- Intaglio printing
- Serial numbering
- Registration device
Why Add This Banknote to Your Collection?
The Guinea-Bissau 500 Pesos 1990 Pick 12 UNC banknote combines political history with an important historical theme. As one of the final Peso issues before the introduction of the CFA Franc, it represents an essential piece of Guinea-Bissau’s monetary history.
Perfect for:
- African banknote collections
- Guinea-Bissau currency collections
- Portuguese-speaking countries
- Historical world banknotes
- Former national currencies
- UNC paper money collections
Collector’s Note
The Pick 12 is one of the best-known Guinea-Bissau banknotes thanks to its portrait of Francisco Mendes and its historically significant reverse design. Together with the rest of the 1990 series, it marks the closing chapter of the Guinea-Bissau Peso before its replacement by the CFA Franc in 1997.
