25 Centavos NIO #379

Front

The coat of arms of Nicaragua at center, featuring a triangle enclosing five volcanoes rising from the Pacific Ocean with a Phrygian cap on a pole above them, surrounded by the text 'REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA AMERICA CENTRAL'. The coat of arms represents the five original member states of the United Provinces of Central America and has been the national emblem since 1823. The denomination '25' appears prominently at center right, with the national flower (Sacuanjoche/Plumeria) depicted to the right. Decorative elements include guilloche patterns and '25' in rosettes at corners. Text 'VEINTICINCO CENTAVOS' appears on a banner below center.

Back

Identical design to the front but printed in rose/magenta ink instead of blue. The coat of arms of Nicaragua, denomination '5' (note: appears as '5' rather than '25' on this face, likely a design element showing the fractional córdoba relationship), the Sacuanjoche flower, and identical decorative patterns and text arrangement. The printer's imprint 'HARRISON & SONS LIMITED' appears at the bottom center of both sides.

History

This 25 centavos note belongs to the córdoba currency series introduced in 1991 following Nicaragua's severe hyperinflation of the 1980s. In 1991, the new córdoba (NIO) replaced the old córdoba at a rate of 5,000,000:1. Fractional denominations like this 25 centavos note were printed by the British security printer Harrison & Sons Limited. The note features Nicaragua's coat of arms, adopted in 1823 and modified in 1971, which depicts the triangle of equality, the Phrygian cap of freedom, five volcanoes representing the original Central American federation members, and a rainbow symbolizing peace. The Sacuanjoche (Plumeria rubra), Nicaragua's national flower since 1971, is prominently featured. Small fractional notes like this were eventually withdrawn from circulation as inflation continued, though the córdoba remains Nicaragua's currency. The note's dual-color printing (blue front, rose back) was a common anti-counterfeiting measure for the era.