1 peso 1965
Market Prices
19 salesAbout This Note
This is a visually striking 1965 Mexican 1 Peso note issued by Banco de México and printed by the American Bank Note Company (ABNC), presenting the iconic Aztec calendar stone on the obverse against a light pink/beige multicolor underprint. The reverse features the Independence Monument in rose/red tones, exemplifying Mexico's cultural and historical pride during the mid-20th century. In UNC condition with crisp printing and no significant wear, this note represents a well-preserved example of post-revolutionary Mexican currency design.
Common. This is a regular-issue note from 1965 with substantial print run (series BCO-BCX indicates multiple printing blocks). Market data shows consistent eBay sales in the $1–6 range for UNC examples across multiple years (2012–2021), with exceptional PMG-graded specimens (66–68) reaching $16–41. The 2019 catalogue value for UNC is only $2, and the note remains readily available in the collector market, indicating no scarcity.
Issued on June 9, 1965, this note was produced during a period of relative stability in Mexico following the Revolution, when the Banco de México was reinforcing national identity through numismatic imagery. The prominently featured Aztec calendar stone on the obverse connects the modern Mexican state to its pre-Columbian heritage, while the Independence Monument on the reverse celebrates Mexico's liberation from Spanish colonial rule, reflecting the nation's mid-century focus on cultural continuity and democratic sovereignty.
The obverse features a large, intricately engraved circular Aztec calendar stone (the 'Piedra del Sol') dominating the center, surrounded by symmetrical ornamental corner medallions with heraldic eagle designs and decorative scrollwork typical of ABNC's fine-line engraving style. The reverse displays the Monument to Independence (Monumento a la Independencia) — the iconic Angel of Independence column — as the central vignette, flanked by ornamental corner designs with floral and architectural motifs. The color scheme of light pink/beige on the front and rose/red on the back creates visual distinction between the two sides while maintaining the dignified aesthetic appropriate to Mexican national currency of the era.
Front side: 'BANCO DE MEXICO' (Bank of Mexico); 'MEXICO, D.F.' (Mexico City); '9-VI-1965' (June 9, 1965); 'SERIE' (Series); 'A LA VISTA AL PORTADOR EN EFECTIVO' (Payable to bearer on sight in cash); 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY' (printer attribution); Serial number 'Y836583'. Back side: 'BANCO DE MEXICO' (Bank of Mexico); 'UN PESO' (One Peso); 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY' (printer attribution); 'BENEMÉRITO DE HUAJUCATLÁN' (Meritorious [figure] of Huajucatlán).
Intaglio printing (fine-line engraving) by American Bank Note Company (ABNC), characterized by the intricate concentric patterns within the Aztec calendar stone, the complex ornamental borders, detailed monument vignette, and fine tonal gradations visible throughout both sides. The crisp, sharp printing and the multiple layers of anti-counterfeiting design elements (ornamental medallions, fine scrollwork, and detailed engraved patterns) are hallmarks of ABNC's mid-20th century security printing standards.
This specimen corresponds to Pick P-59i based on the ABNC printer attribution and the distinctive 'MEXICO D.F.' text placement noted in the reference catalog. The visual analysis confirms the light pink/beige multicolor underprint and red reverse characteristic of this variant. The serial number prefix 'Y' and series designation fall within the BCO-BCX range documented for this issue. Other documented ABNC variants (P-59c, P-59e, P-59j, P-59l) exist within the same Pick number, likely representing different printing blocks or signature combinations; this example's specific signatures and complete serial formatting would determine the precise sub-variety if cross-referenced against PMG population data.
