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My Ecuadorian Banknote Collection

Since the many varieties of Ecuadorian banknotes are not documented anywhere, life is unnecessarily complicated for the Ecuadorian banknote collector. Since he has no checklist of all of the varieties available, he has no idea how complete his collection may be. And when he wants to buy a banknote or trade with someone else, he has no way to know if their note is one he needs or not, based on their brief description of it as "Pick #127 1995". He can email or call them to ask the series, but there is no way to ask the signature type of the note over the phone without some reference to compare with. I am putting scans of the fronts of my Ecuadorian banknotes on line in the hopes that they can begin to serve as this reference.

Note: The backs of the Ecuadorian banknotes (especially the size of the arms, presence of flagpoles, name of the printer, and sometimes other design features) are useful in determining the basic type of the note (Pick type), so I have included below examples of the basic types. However, virtually all varieties of Ecuadorian banknotes within a type are determined by series, date, signature type, signature titles, and other details found on the front of the note. For this reason, the subpages of this page depicting my actual banknote collection include scans of the fronts of the notes only.

You can click on any of  the banknote images on this page to view a larger, more detailed image.


Banks other than Central Bank

sample image from Banco Sur Americano Pick #S- (Pick specialized issues catalog)

Dates: 1860-1926

Comments: 
All notes from these banks are scarce to rare, except for a few notes from the Banco Internacional and the Banco Suramericano.
Bco. Comercial | Bco. de Descuento | Bco. del Ecuador | Bco. Internacional | Bco. Particular de Descuento i Circulación de Guayaqil | Bco. de Pichincha | Bco. de Quito | Bco. Sur Americano | Caja de Amortización

First Series: Capital Autorizado 10,000,000 Sucres

sample image of first series bill Pick #84-88 (7th & 8th ed.)

Dates: 1928-1938

Distinguishing characteristics:

  • Front of note with text "Capital Autorizado 10,000,000 Sucres"
  • Two signature titles
  • Printer: American Bank Note Company
5 Sucres | 10 Sucres | 20 Sucres | 50 Sucres | 100 Sucres

Second Series: Capital Authorizado 20,000,000 Sucres

sample image of second series bill Pick #91-97 (7th/8th ed.)

Dates: 1939-49 lower denominations
           1944-67 500/1000 sucre bills

Distinguishing characteristics:

  • Front of note with text "Capital Autorizado 20,000,000 Sucres"
  • Three signature titles
  • Printer: American Bank Note Company
5 Sucres | 10 Sucres | 20 Sucres | 50 Sucres | 100 Sucres | 500 Sucres | 1000 Sucres

Triple Series: 5 Sucres Series AAA; 50 Sucres Series BBB (1950s)

sample image of triple series bill Pick #98-99 (7th edition)
Pick #98 & 101 (8th edition)

Dates: 1950 -55 (5 sucres) -59 (50 sucres)

Distinguishing characteristics:

  • Series is three letters rather than two
  • 5 sucres AAA; 50 sucres BBB
  • Printer: Waterlow & Sons Limited
5 Sucres | 50 Sucres

Notes printed by American Bank Note Company; arms on back 31 mm. wide, w/o flagpole stems below

sample image of abnc arms without base 20 sucres bill Pick #100-107 (7th edition)
Pick #102, 99, 100, 107, 101, 116A, 112, 113 (8th edition)

Dates: 1950-1973 (1980 for 100-sucre bills)

Distinguishing characteristics:

  • Arms on back 31 mm. wide
  • Arms without flagpole stems below
  • Printer: American Bank Note Company
5 Sucres | 10 Sucres | 20 Sucres | 50 Sucres | 100 Sucres | 500 Sucres | 1000 Sucres

Notes printed by ABNC; arms on back 29 mm. wide, w/ flagpole stems below

sample image of abnc arms with base 20 sucres bill Pick #108-112 (7th edition)
Pick #114-118 (8th edition)

Dates: 1975-1983

Distinguishing characteristics:

  • Arms on back 29 mm. wide
  • Arms with flagpole stems below
  • Printer: American Bank Note Company
5 Sucres | 10 Sucres | 20 Sucres | 50 Sucres | 100 Sucres

Notes printed by TDLR; arms on back 29 mm. wide, w/ flagpole stems below

sample image of tdlr 20 sucres bill Pick #113-120 (7th edition)
Pick #113, 109, 106, 116, 108, 111, 119 & 120 (8th edition)

Dates: 1958-1982

Distinguishing characteristics:

  • Arms on back 29 mm. wide
  • Arms with flagpole stems below
  • Printer: Thomas de la Rue
5 Sucres | 10 Sucres | 20 Sucres | 50 Sucres | 100 Sucres | 500 Sucres | 1000 Sucres

No printer imprinted; arms on back 29 mm. wide, w/ flagpole stems below

sample image of 20 sucres bill, no printer imprinted Pick #121-125 (7th & 8th ed.)

Dates: 1984-88 other bills
           1986-97 100 sucre bills

Distinguishing characteristics:

  • Arms on back 29 mm. wide
  • Arms with flagpole stems below
  • No printer name  imprinted
10 Sucres | 20 Sucres | 50 Sucres | 100 Sucres | 500 Sucres | 1000 Sucres

High denomination bills (> 1000 Sucres)

sample image of high denomination bill Pick #126-130 (7th/8th editions)

Dates: 1987- (5000 sucre notes)
           1988- (10000 sucre notes)
           1995- (other notes)

Distinguishing characteristics:

  • Denomination of 5000 sucres or higher
  • Portrait watermark
  • Printer: Banco Central del Ecuador, or no imprint
5000 Sucres | 10000 Sucres | 20000 Sucres | 50000 Sucres

Special bills (Substitution Notes, Errors, Proofs, Specimens, Falsifications, Play Money)

sample image of special bill (Not listed in Pick)

Category includes:

  • Substitution Notes (series DD, EE, etc.--like US Star Notes)
  • Errors such as missing ink, defects
  • Proofs
  • Specimen notes printed for collectors
  • Counterfeits
  • Children's play money
ADULT BILLS Substitution Notes | Error Notes | Proofs | Specimens | Falsifications
CHILDREN'S BILLS Billetes de Juego Infantil | Billetes de Juego (or unlabeled) | Billetes Didácticos
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