10 pesos 1915

Common. State emergency currency notes from the Mexican Revolutionary period were issued in substantial quantities to facilitate commerce within their territories. While these notes are now historical artifacts, they were produced in multiple series and denominations with significant print runs. The Pick catalog assignment and survival in VF condition suggest adequate historical availability. No specific indication of limited print runs, recalls, or short-lived issuing authority status that would warrant a scarce or rare designation.

This note was issued during the Mexican Revolution, specifically under Decree No. 2 of February 19, 1915, as emergency currency for the State of Oaxaca with forced circulation and unlimited legal tender status within the state territory. The dated issue of July 19, 1915 reflects the period when various Mexican states and factions issued their own currency to finance operations during the Revolution. The note's declaration of 'poder liberatorio ilimitado' (unlimited liberatory power) demonstrates the financial measures states took to maintain economic function during political upheaval.

The obverse features an ornate decorative border in blue and brown with cross-hatching patterns framing the note. A prominent circular medallion on the left contains an engraved landscape depicting mountains and a river or water body, representing Oaxaca's natural geography. The denomination '10' appears in ornate corner frames at all four corners. The reverse displays a formal male portrait in profile facing right, rendered in fine engraving style showing a man in 19th/early 20th century formal attire with suit jacket and bow tie. The left side of the reverse contains the state coat of arms or emblem of Oaxaca above legal text, with decorative classical motifs in the header. The overall design employs fine line engraving with intricate ornamental borders throughout, characteristic of the period's banknote artistry.

FRONT SIDE: '10 PESOS' / 'La Tesorería General del Estado de Oaxaca' (The General Treasury of the State of Oaxaca) / 'Serie X' (Series X) / 'Pagará al portador en efectivo Diez Pesos' (Will pay to bearer in cash Ten Pesos) / 'Oaxaca de Juárez, 19 de Julio de 1915' (Oaxaca de Juárez, July 19, 1915) / 'El Tesorero' (The Treasurer) / 'El Contador' (The Accountant) / Serial: 509434 / 'Artes Gráficas de Julián S. Soto Oaxaca' (Graphic Arts of Julián S. Soto Oaxaca). BACK SIDE: 'Este Título de Crédito es de circulación forzosa y tiene poder liberatorio ilimitado dentro del territorio del Estado de Oaxaca' (This Credit Document is of forced circulation and has unlimited liberatory power within the territory of the State of Oaxaca) / 'Decreto número 2 del 19 de Febrero de 1915' (Decree number 2 of February 19, 1915) / 'Oaxaca' / 'Artes Gráficas de Julián S. Soto Oaxaca'

Intaglio engraving (line engraving), as evidenced by the detailed fine-line patterns visible in the ornamental borders, portrait rendering, landscape medallion, and security cross-hatching. The note was printed by Artes Gráficas de Julián S. Soto in Oaxaca, a local printing establishment. The complex decorative elements and portrait work are consistent with professional engraving techniques of the 1915 period, utilizing multi-color printing with separate plates for the blue, brown/red, and black color elements.

Pick catalog P-S957a2 designation indicates this is the 'a2' variety of the 10 Pesos 1915 Oaxaca note. This specimen represents 'Serie X' (Series X) with serial number 509434. Varieties within this Pick number may include different series designations, signature combinations, or printing dates within the July 19, 1915 issue date range. The specific series and serial number combination serves to identify this individual note's place within the issue variant structure.