1 peso 1915

Common. While mining company scrip from the Mexican Revolution period commands collector interest, the Compañía Minera Las Dos Estrellas issued multiple series and denominations with relatively high print runs to facilitate ongoing worker payments. The existence of multiple serial numbers in circulation (this example is Series S, Number 17131) indicates substantial production. Mexican mining scrip from this issuer appears regularly in collector markets and specialized auctions dedicated to Mexican ephemera and Revolutionary-era currency. The UNC condition adds significant value over circulated examples, but the note itself is not a scarce variety.

The Compañía Minera Las Dos Estrellas was a mining operation in Tlalpujahua, Michoacán, which issued this scrip during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) when traditional currency was scarce and unstable. Mining companies throughout Mexico commonly issued their own tokens and banknotes to pay workers, particularly in remote areas where federal currency was difficult to obtain. The February 1, 1915 date places this note during a critical period of the Revolution when regional and local authorities were fragmented, making company scrip a practical necessity for commerce.

The note features a classical late 19th-century banknote aesthetic with fine line engraving throughout. The front displays a symmetrical composition with ornate corner rosettes and a large central oval medallion containing the denomination 'UN PESO' in bold letters. The company name forms an elegant banner above this central seal, while location and date information are positioned below. No portraits appear on either side; instead, security and aesthetic interest derive from the intricate geometric patterns and guilloché work. The reverse presents a masterfully engraved ornate shield or rosette-shaped security medallion with concentric geometric patterns and fine parallel line shading, typical of high-security banknote design from the era. The pale green coloration was a standard choice for mining company scrip of this period.

FRONT SIDE: 'COMPAÑÍA MINERA LAS DOS ESTRELLAS' (Mining Company The Two Stars) / 'TLALPUJAHUA, MICH.' (Tlalpujahua, Michoacán) / 'VALE POR UN PESO' (Worth One Peso) / 'UN PESO' (One Peso - in circular medallion) / '1º DE FEBRERO DE 1915' (1st of February, 1915) / 'SERIE S' (Series S) / 'N° 17131' (Number 17131) / 'CONTADOR' (Accountant - signature line) / 'GERENTE' (Manager - signature line). BACK SIDE: '5P106' (Internal catalog or reference marking).

The note was produced using intaglio engraving (line engraving), evidenced by the crisp parallel line work, fine guilloché patterns, and the uniform depth of impression visible throughout both sides. The detailed rosette medallions and border ornaments display the hallmarks of professional banknote engraving, suggesting this was produced by a specialized security printer rather than a basic print shop. The quality of execution indicates this may have been produced by one of Mexico's established banknote security printers, though specific printer attribution would require archival research.

This specimen is identified as Series S, Serial Number 17131, dated February 1, 1915. The 'SERIE S' designation suggests this was part of the S series of production runs. Known varieties of this issuer typically include different series designations (A through Z or beyond), different signature combinations in the Contador and Gerente lines, and potentially different printing dates within the 1915 issue. The specific series and serial number combination shown here would allow collectors to track printing quantities and variants within the Compañía Minera Las Dos Estrellas issue.