10 pesos 1915
About This Note
This is an attractive AU-graded 10 pesos banknote issued by the Estado de Sonora in Hermosillo on January 19, 1915, during the Mexican Revolution. The note features dual portraits of prominent figures in formal attire on both sides of an ornate central design, printed by the American Bank Note Company in a distinctive peachy-salmon color scheme on the front and green on the back. Despite minor foxing and age-related discoloration consistent with its historical circulation, the note retains excellent detail in its fine intaglio work and remains a desirable example of Mexican revolutionary-period state currency.
Common. While this is a state-issued note from the Mexican Revolution, Sonora was a significant regional power that issued substantial quantities of currency during this period. The Pick catalog number P-S1073 appears in major references, indicating it was part of a documented series with adequate surviving examples. AU condition examples are available in the collector market at reasonable prices typical for early 20th-century Mexican regional currency, further confirming common status.
This State of Sonora issue was authorized under Decree No. 15 dated August 27, 1913, during the tumultuous Mexican Revolution when regional authorities issued their own currency due to national instability. The prominently displayed Mexican Republic coat of arms on the reverse affirms Sonora's constitutional sovereignty within Mexico, while the January 1915 date places this note during the period of regional military and political fragmentation. The 'PAGARÁ AL PORTADOR EN EFECTIVO' (will pay bearer in cash) promise reflects the state's attempt to establish confidence in its fiat currency during a period of widespread monetary disorder.
The front face features a striking bilateral portrait arrangement with a bearded gentleman in formal suit and tie positioned on the left and a mustached gentleman in similar formal dress on the right, framing an ornate central medallion containing the prominent denomination '10'. The design incorporates decorative clover or floral elements in the corners and complex diagonal background hatching typical of period intaglio security work. The reverse displays the Mexican national coat of arms—an eagle with spread wings within a wreath—as the dominant central element, positioned between denomination markers '10' in ornate frames on both left and right sides. A red circular official government seal appears in the upper left of the reverse. The specific identities of the portrayed figures would require additional historical documentation, though they likely represented significant Sonoran political or military leadership of the 1915 period.
FRONT SIDE: 'Hermosillo, Sonora, México, Enero 19 de 1915' (Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, January 19, 1915); 'El Estado de Sonora' (The State of Sonora); 'Pagará al Portador en Efectivo' (Will pay the bearer in cash); 'Diez Pesos' (Ten Pesos); 'Série J' (Series J); 'Conforme al Decreto Número 15 de Fecha 27 de Agosto de 1913' (In accordance with Decree Number 15 dated August 27, 1913); 'El Gobernador' (The Governor); 'El Secretario de Estado' (The Secretary of State); 'American Bank Note Co. New York'; Serial number '00686'. BACK SIDE: 'Estado de Sonora' (State of Sonora); 'República Mexicana' (Mexican Republic); 'Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora' (Free and Sovereign State of Sonora); 'Diez Pesos' (Ten Pesos); 'American Bank Note Company, New York'; Series marking 'R-X'.
Intaglio engraving, executed by the American Bank Note Company of New York. The visual analysis confirms fine-line intaglio work throughout, evidenced by the crisp detail in portrait rendering, the complex geometric background patterns with diagonal lines, ornate border designs with repeating patterns, and the precise execution of the coat of arms. The dual-color printing (peachy-salmon front with black/gray intaglio; green reverse with black intaglio and red seal impression) indicates multiple printing passes. The security features include the fine engraved details, ornate borders, and the official seal impression, all characteristic of ABNC's standard security printing practices for Mexican state currency of this era.
This note is identified as Serie J with serial number 00686. The reverse shows series marking 'R-X'. The specific combination of Series J on the front with the R-X marking on the reverse, along with the January 19, 1915 date and Hermosillo location, identifies this as part of the documented 1915 Sonora issue. Collectors should note that Mexican revolutionary-period state notes exist with various series designations and date variants; this particular example represents the 'J' series variety of the 10 pesos denomination.
