1 peso 1913
Market Prices
About This Note
A VF example of the 1913 one peso from Banco Peninsular Mexicano, featuring an Indian woman in traditional dress and a sailing ship rendered in black on tan/yellow-brown underprint. The note displays period-appropriate aging with visible stamps and slight discoloration, but the ornate engraved designs remain well-preserved and legible, making it a representative example of early 20th-century Mexican regional banking currency.
Common. While regional Mexican banknotes from 1913 have collector interest, eBay transaction data shows prices ranging from $19.99 to $180.00 USD with multiple UNC examples selling in the $80-$150 range, indicating adequate supply in the secondary market. The VF grade specimen observed falls within the $50-$85 price range evident in the listing data, consistent with common circulation rather than scarce material.
Issued by Banco Peninsular Mexicano on November 30, 1913, during the tumultuous Mexican Revolution, this banknote reflects the era's regional financial autonomy when state banks still circulated their own currency. The depicted sailing ship and indigenous figure evoke Mexico's maritime heritage and cultural identity, while the 'PAGARÁ AL PORTADOR' (will pay to bearer) format represents the transitional period before centralized Mexican currency control.
The obverse features a standing Indigenous woman in ceremonial or traditional dress on the left, rendered in classical engraving style, paired with a full-rigged sailing ship on the right—both symbolic of Mexico's cultural and maritime heritage. The denomination 'UN PESO' appears in an ornate cartouche at center. The reverse displays elaborate botanical and floral motifs with two circular ornamental medallions containing numeral denominations and decorative emblems, typical of fine bank note engraving. The overall design employs complex geometric borders, scrollwork, and cross-hatched security patterns throughout.
FRONT: 'EL BANCO PENINSULAR MEXICANO S.A.' (The Peninsular Bank Mexican S.A.) | 'UN PESO' (One Peso) | 'MERIDA. 30 de Noviembre 1913' (Merida. November 30, 1913) | 'PAGARÁ A LA VISTA AL PORTADOR EN EFECTIVO' (Will pay at sight to bearer in cash) | 'SERIE A' (Series A) | 'Nº 185766' (Number 185766) | 'EL INTERVENTOR' (The Auditor), 'EL DIRECTOR' (The Director), 'EL CAJERO' (The Cashier) [signature lines] | 'AMERICAN BOOK & PRINTING CO. MEX. D.F.' (American Book & Printing Company, Mexico City). BACK: 'BANCO PENINSULAR MEXICANO S.A.' (Peninsular Bank Mexican S.A.) | 'AMERICAN BOOK & PRINTING CO. MEXICO. D.F.' (American Book & Printing Company, Mexico City).
Intaglio engraving (line engraving), printed by American Book & Printing Company (AB&PC) in Mexico City, identifiable from the detailed fine line work, cross-hatching, and ornate engraved borders visible on both sides. The multi-color printing (black on yellow/tan underprint, green back) was accomplished through successive pass printing, characteristic of early 20th-century bank note production.
Series A with serial number 185766. The note is identified as BK-YUC-63 in the Realbanknotes community catalog (Yucatan regional designation, indicating issue from Mérida, the capital of Yucatan state). The handwritten signature line on the left is consistent with the manual authorization signatures typical of 1913 regional bank issues. No major overprints or variations noted beyond standard production characteristics.
