10 pesos 1890
Market Prices
About This Note
This 10 pesos note from Banco Nacional de México, dated December 1, 1890, represents a well-preserved example of Mexico's late 19th-century currency featuring the classic ABNC design with ornate green and gold borders on the obverse. The note displays a portrait in oval frame on the left and an allegorical 'Tropics No. 2' seated female figure with cherubs in the center, with the reverse showing a neoclassical civic building in blue. In VF condition, the note shows age-appropriate handling marks and creasing consistent with historical circulation, making it a solid collector specimen of this important issue period (1889-1897).
Common. The eBay market data provided shows prices ranging from $4.99 to $899.00 USD depending on condition, with circulated and VF examples regularly appearing at $25-$135, indicating steady collector availability. This Pick number (P-S258c) represents a standard regular issue from the 1885-1913 production period, and while these notes are historically significant, they were produced in substantial quantities. The consistent appearance of examples across multiple condition grades at moderate price points is typical of common 19th-century Mexican banknotes.
This note was issued during the presidency of Porfirio Díaz (1876-1911), a period of modernization and railroad expansion in Mexico. The allegorical female figure and architectural imagery on the reverse—depicting a neoclassical government building—reflect Mexico's aspirations toward progress and institutional stability during this era. The December 1890 date places this note early in the Bank's production run, and the ABNC printing (American Bank Note Company) demonstrates the Bank's reliance on foreign security printers, a common practice among Latin American institutions seeking advanced anti-counterfeiting technology.
The obverse features an ornate frame design in green and gold with a portrait of a young woman in an oval frame on the left side, identified as M. García Teruel based on catalog data. The central vignette depicts the allegorical figure 'Tropics No. 2'—a classical draped female figure seated with a decorative headdress, accompanied by cherubs (putti), with Mexican landscape elements including cacti and architectural structures visible in the background, symbolizing Mexico's natural wealth and civilization. The denomination '10' appears in ornate rectangular frames at both left and right margins. The reverse presents a neoclassical civic building with a prominent central cupola and bell tower, rendered in blue and white engraving, framed by ornate blue decorative borders with repeated shell or fan motifs in each corner. This architectural vignette likely represents a Mexican government building or financial institution, reinforcing the authority and modernity of the issuing bank.
OBVERSE: 'EL BANCO NACIONAL DE MÉXICO' (The National Bank of Mexico) / 'PAGARÁ' (Will pay) [red circular stamp] / '10 DIEZ PESOS' (10 Ten pesos) / 'A LA VISTA AL PORTADOR EN EFECTIVO' (On demand to bearer in cash) / 'SERIE M 3' (Series M 3) / 'MÉXICO, Diciembre 1º 1890' (Mexico, December 1st, 1890) / 'CONSEJERO' (Councilor), 'CAJERO' (Cashier), 'INTERVENTOR' (Auditor), 'DIRECTOR INTERINO' (Interim Director) [signature titles] / 'Compañía Americana de Billetes de Banco Nueva York' (American Bank Note Company New York) / Serial number: 248481. REVERSE: 'BANCO NACIONAL DE MÉXICO' (National Bank of Mexico) / '10 CENTAVO' (10 Centavo) / 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, NEW YORK'
Intaglio engraving (steel plate printing) executed by American Bank Note Company (ABNC), New York. The note exhibits characteristic ABNC hallmarks: fine line work, intricate scrollwork borders, detailed facial rendering in the portraits, complex multi-color printing with distinct color separation (black primary design, colored underprints in yellow/blue on obverse and blue on reverse), and high-quality security engraving throughout. The fine linear patterns and detailed architectural rendering visible on the reverse exemplify the sophisticated intaglio techniques ABNC employed as a leading security printer of the era.
This example is identified as Pick S258c, representing a specific variety within the 10 pesos 1890 series. The note carries Series M 3 designation and serial number 248481. The date of December 1, 1890 falls within the documented production period of 1889-1897 for this design (ABNC printing codes 1.10.1889-26.7.1897, BK-DF-217). Varieties for this Pick number typically include different series letters (common variations include Series A through Z) and signature combinations representing different officers serving as Councilor, Cashier, Auditor, and Interim Director. The M series and specific signature combination on this note represent one variant within the broader P-S258c classification.
