What is the Argentina 100,000 pesos note of 1979?

It is one of the top denominations of the peso ley, the currency Argentina used from 1 January 1970 until 1983. Officially the peso ley 18.188, after the law that created it, it replaced the old peso moneda nacional at 100 to 1. As prices kept rising through the 1970s, the Banco Central added ever larger notes, and in 1980 and 1981 it was issuing the 100,000 and 500,000 pesos ley.

English Wikipedia's table of the series dates the start of the 100,000's issue to 1 November 1979. Spanish Wikipedia gives its run as 1979 to 1983 and its colour as black. The catalog number is Pick 308, which sits neatly between the 50,000 (catalogued by banknotes.com as AR-307) and the 500,000 (AR-309).

Who is on the front, and what is on the back?

The front carries General José de San Martín, born in Yapeyú on 25 February 1778 and died in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, on 17 August 1850. He led armies in the wars of independence across the south of the continent: Wikipedia lists him as general-in-chief of the Army of Chile and Protector of Peru. Every peso ley note from the 50 pesos upward carries his portrait.

The back shows the Casa de Moneda, Argentina's national mint. It was established in 1875 as the Casa de Moneda de la Nación, and it still produces the country's coins and banknotes, along with passports and postage stamps. A note that pictures the place where notes are made is a quietly self-referential design, and a fitting one for a series that needed so many new denominations.

The 100,000 pesos shows the mint on its back. Within six years of its issue, two new currencies had arrived and the note itself was demonetized.

How does the 100,000 compare with the other top peso ley notes?

The four largest peso ley notes arrived in quick succession, each with San Martín on the front and a new scene on the back:

Backs and issue dates follow English Wikipedia; colours follow Spanish Wikipedia's table. By our arithmetic, the top denomination grew twentyfold in less than three years, from 50,000 in February 1979 to 1,000,000 in November 1981.

What was one 100,000 pesos note worth after each currency change?

Less each time. Argentina replaced the peso ley with the peso argentino on 1 June 1983 at 10,000 to 1. The austral followed on 15 June 1985 at 1,000 pesos argentinos to 1, and in 1992 the convertible peso replaced the austral at 10,000 to 1. When the austral arrived, the old peso ley notes were demonetized. Here is a single 100,000 pesos ley note carried through the whole chain:

Our Argentina banknotes guide tells the full thirteen-zero story, and our post on the austral picks up where this note leaves off.

What should you check when buying a 100,000 pesos ley note?

A few practical checks keep you from buying the wrong note or the wrong grade:

1. Count the zeros. The 50,000, 100,000 and 500,000 share the San Martín front, so read the denomination before anything else. The 100,000 has five zeros and a Casa de Moneda back.
2. Check the catalog number. The 100,000 is Pick 308. A letter after the number, such as the b on ours, marks a variety; our Pick numbers guide explains that letters separate signatures, dates or printings of the same design.
3. Look for true uncirculated paper. Crisp paper, sharp corners and no folds. Hold the note to raking light to spot a soft center bend.
4. Know which currency you are holding. The first peso argentino notes of 1983 were printed from modified peso ley plates, so similar designs can belong to different currencies. The catalog number settles it.

Planet Banknote has the 1979 to 1981 100,000 pesos, Pick 308b, as single crisp uncirculated notes. Set one beside an austral note and you can hold two chapters of the same story.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is on the Argentina 100,000 pesos note?

General José de San Martín (1778 to 1850), who led independence armies in Chile and Peru. His portrait appears on every peso ley note from the 50 pesos upward, including the 100,000 pesos of 1979.

What is on the back of the 1979 100,000 pesos note?

The Casa de Moneda, Argentina's national mint, established in 1875 as the Casa de Moneda de la Nación. It still produces the country's coins and banknotes.

What is the Pick number of the Argentina 100,000 pesos ley?

Pick 308. It falls between the 50,000 pesos (AR-307 at banknotes.com) and the 500,000 pesos (AR-309). Letters after the number, such as 308b, mark varieties of the same design.

When was the 100,000 pesos ley note issued?

English Wikipedia dates the start of its issue to 1 November 1979, and Spanish Wikipedia gives its run as 1979 to 1983. The peso ley itself was replaced by the peso argentino on 1 June 1983.

How much is 100,000 pesos ley in today's pesos?

By our arithmetic, one millionth of a peso: 100,000 pesos ley became 10 pesos argentinos in 1983, 0.01 austral in 1985 and 0.000001 convertible peso in 1992. As a collectible, its interest is historical rather than its face value.

Is the 1979 Argentina 100,000 pesos note still legal tender?

No. Old peso ley banknotes were demonetized when the austral was introduced in June 1985, according to Wikipedia's history of the peso argentino.