1 peso 1914

Scarce. This is a localized emergency issue from Guaymas during the Mexican Revolution, issued by a specific regional treasury office on a specific date (March 16, 1914). Print runs for such provisional regional emergency currencies were typically limited compared to regular federal issues. The specific Pick catalog attribution (P-S1060) indicates this is recognized as a distinct variety in specialized catalogs. Notes from this issuing authority and date are not commonly encountered in the numismatic market, making this a genuinely scarce revolutionary-period Mexican note rather than a common circulation piece.

This banknote was issued during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) when the federal government required emergency currency to maintain financial operations in remote regions. The Guaymas, Sonora location is significant as it was a key port city and federal stronghold during the conflict. The depicted harbor scene on the reverse—showing colonial-era waterfront architecture and commercial shipping—represents Mexico's pre-revolutionary mercantile heritage, while the red/orange overprinting indicates this was a provisional or provisional-emergency issue, typical of the period when legitimate currency supplies were disrupted by revolutionary warfare.

The obverse features an ornate rope-pattern decorative border with baroque-style corner scrollwork. The denomination '1' is prominently displayed within an ornamental cartouche at center, flanked by the Mexican national eagle on the right side. A repeating text background pattern reading 'Un Peso' serves as a security measure. The reverse presents an impressive engraved vignette depicting Guaymas harbor with colonial-period architecture along the waterfront, multiple sailing vessels anchored in the harbor, and mountain ranges in the background. The vignette is framed by symmetrical baroque ornamental designs with floral and scrollwork elements, with the denomination numeral '1' repeated in the frame corners. The lithographic credit 'A. Diaz de Leon e Hijos' of Mazatlan indicates this was produced by a respected Mexican lithographic firm.

FRONT SIDE: 'LA TESORERIA DE LA FEDERACION' (The Treasury of the Federation) / 'UN PESO EFECTIVO' (One Effective Peso) / 'GUAYMAS SONORA MARZO 16 DE 1914' (Guaymas Sonora March 16 of 1914) / Repeating background text: 'Un Peso' (One Peso). BACK SIDE: 'LIT. "LA NACIONAL," MAZATLAN. A. DIAZ DE LEON E HIJOS' (Lithography 'The National,' Mazatlan. A. Diaz de Leon and Sons).

This note was produced using lithographic printing, as evidenced by the printer's mark on the reverse crediting 'Lit. "La Nacional," Mazatlan' (A. Diaz de Leon e Hijos). The detailed engraved vignette on the reverse and ornate decorative borders on both sides are characteristic of fine lithographic work typical of early 20th-century Mexican banknotes. The red/orange overprinting was applied as an additional security measure or to designate this as a provisional emergency issue.

This note is dated specifically to March 16, 1914, issued from Guaymas, Sonora by the Tesoreria de la Federacion. The red/orange overprinting indicates this may be a specific variety designation within the P-S1060 catalog number—potentially marking it as a provisional or emergency overprint variety. The lithographic printer's mark (A. Diaz de Leon e Hijos of Mazatlan) is consistent with identified production of Mexican revolutionary currency. The note's VF condition with visible creases and age patina suggests it saw actual circulation during the revolutionary period, adding historical authenticity to the piece.