1 peso 1914
About This Note
A fascinating 1 peso emergency currency issued by the Comisión Reguladora del Mercado de Henequén in Mérida, Yucatán on November 20, 1914, during Mexico's tumultuous Revolutionary period. The note features an elegant portrait of a woman in profile on the obverse and the Mexican eagle coat of arms on the reverse, with exceptional period detail in its ornamental borders and henequén plant imagery reflecting the region's agricultural economy. In EF condition, this example displays expected aging with some foxing and a purple stamp mark over the portrait, representing a well-preserved specimen of this regionally-issued scrip from a brief and historically significant issuance.
Common. While regionally-issued Mexican Revolutionary scrip generally has limited collector base compared to federal currency, the Henequén Commission notes were produced in functional quantities for circulation in a major economic sector. No historical record indicates an unusually restricted print run or major recall. The Pick catalog inclusion (P-S1122b variety designation) suggests multiple varieties exist, indicating reasonable production levels. Notes of this type typically appear on the market regularly at moderate prices ($15-50 range for circulated examples), consistent with common classifications.
The Comisión Reguladora del Mercado de Henequén was a state-level emergency issuing authority created during the Mexican Revolution to manage liquidity in Yucatán's crucial henequén (sisal fiber) industry. The November 1914 date places this note during a period of acute currency shortage and regional fragmentation, when local authorities issued their own scrip backed by commodity markets rather than the federal government. The henequén plant depicted on the obverse symbolizes the economic foundation of Yucatán, while the Mexican eagle on the reverse asserts national sovereignty despite the chaotic political circumstances.
The obverse presents a right-facing female portrait wearing a pearl necklace and decorated period garment, positioned on the left side of the note, with henequén plants illustrated on the right—both elements emphasizing the feminine and agricultural identity of Yucatán's economy. The design employs elaborate geometric ornamental borders with cross-like corner motifs in a teal and cream color scheme with red/pink accents. A fine crosshatch background pattern provides anti-counterfeiting security detail throughout. The reverse displays a central Mexican coat of arms (eagle with spread wings) surrounded by symmetrical baroque-style ornamentation including shell and fan motifs, with four corner circle emblems repeating the eagle design, printed in warm tan, rust, and cream tones. The serial number 588214 and Series A designation appear on both sides, with printer attribution to Tipografía y Litografía "La Moderna" of Mérida clearly marked.
FRONT: 'Comisión Reguladora del Mercado de Henequén' (Market Regulating Commission of Henequén) / 'Nº 588214' (Serial Number 588214) / 'Mérida, Yuc., Noviembre 20 de 1914' (Mérida, Yucatán, November 20, 1914) / 'La Tesorería General del Estado' (The General Treasury of the State) / 'Pagará al Portador la cantidad de $1. Un Peso con cargo a la cuenta de la Comisión Reguladora del Mercado de Henequén' (Will pay the bearer the amount of $1. One Peso charged to the account of the Market Regulating Commission of Henequén) / 'Presidente' (President) / 'Gerente General' (General Manager) / 'Serie A' (Series A) / 'Tip. y Lit. "La Moderna"-58-509-Mérida' (Printing and Lithography "La Moderna"-58-509-Mérida). BACK: 'Un Peso' (One Peso) / 'Quedan Encuadados los 558 Fruncados del Codo en Comercio Vigente' (The 558 bundles of [henequén fiber measure] remain encapsulated in current commerce).
Lithography (Litografía), as identified in the printer's mark 'Tip. y Lit. "La Moderna"' (Tipografía y Litografía). The fine crosshatch background patterns, ornamental border details, and the multi-color design (teal/blue-green, cream, and rust tones) are characteristic of period lithographic printing. The note combines typographic elements (text) with lithographic imagery, typical of Mexican Revolutionary-era emergency currency production by regional printers.
Pick P-S1122b represents the Series A variety. The 'b' designation indicates this is a secondary variety within the 1914 1 peso issue; other varieties likely differ in series letter, signatures, or printing details. The specific serial number 588214 and the Series A marking visible on this specimen confirm it as the P-S1122b type. No overprints or unusual variants are apparent on this example, though the purple stamp mark visible on the obverse may indicate a bank or commercial use mark rather than an official printer's variation.
