A Mexican Commemorative Bank Note.

 

The "Banco Minero", formerly located in the Mexican state of Chihuahua , issued a lot of banknotes during the period 1888-1914. Denominations ranged all the way from 25-centavos to 1000-pesos, although the largest number were 1-, 5- and 10-pesos. This was one of the silver-mining outfits backed by American investment so typical of the time and there were a large number of other private Mexican banks similar to it.

From first to last, the notes of Banco Minero generally carried the same design from 1888 onward, the 5-peso shown being typical. All were engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Company of New York in many different series. Although generally the same, there are many varieties of even this one denomination. From 1888 to 1898, each note bore the inscription EN MONEDA DE PLATA DEL CUNO MEXICANO (roughly, "payable in Mexican silver coin"); after 1898, it was switched to A LA PAR EN EFECTIVEO (roughly, "in current money ", meaning that you can not expect to receive five Mexican silver "cartwheels" for it). In addition, most issues read CHIHUAHUA , (and a year) at lower bottom - although one in 1914 merely reads " CHIHUAHUA , " and the specific date "1° DE AGOSTO DE 1914" in a straight line under the right-hand device. Also, the notes may or may not be overprinted in red at upper center with such specific dates as " Chihuahua , Agosto 26 de 1907". Other overprints are known for " Gòmez Palacio ", " Hermosillo " or " Hermosillo / Chihuahua ".

 

Generally speaking, most of 5-peso notes have rather modest collectors' value in the lower conditions - although a complete set might require a lifetime and no dealer will have them in quantity.

 

The "regular" back of the Banco Minero 5-peso, 1888-1914. Blue.

(For comparison, this is from a regular issue of 1910)

 

There is one very great exception to the "generally common" classification: for a short time in 1910, the Banco Minero issued special 5- and 10-peso notes commemorating the centenary of Mexico 's independence. They could very well be the first commemorative notes issued in North America !

 

 

Shown above is a 5-peso example of that 1910 set. The face is generally that used 1888-1914 with the exception of a red overprint just above CINCO PESOS that reads CENTENARIO - 1910. The back is completely different from the regular one, the three panels in Mexico 's national colours: red (right), white (center) and green (left). This note is not common; in fact it's a minor rarity - and the 5-peso is even slightly rarer than the 10.

Wayne Jacobs is numismatic expert. He is the award winning author of numerous articles. He is the secretary and editor of the "Mid-Island Coin Club Numismatic Journal"of Nanaimo, Vancouver Island , British Columbia. The MICC journal are hosted here: MICC webpages Copyright 2006 Wayne Jacobs. This article may be reprinted freely for non commercial purpose only if the resource box is left intact, linking back to us.