100 peso 1913
About This Note
This is an exceptional example of a 100 peso banknote issued by the Gobierno Constitucionalista de México in 1913, graded UNC. The note features striking two-color printing with a cream/beige front and vibrant orange/rust reverse, both displaying crisp, sharp impressions with no visible wear or circulation marks. This rare revolutionary-era Mexican currency represents an important transitional piece from Mexico's Constitutional period, with notable red serial number inking and elaborate ornamental design work characteristic of early 20th-century Mexican security printing.
Uncommon. While the Gobierno Constitucionalista issued currency during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920), this specific 100 peso denomination from 1913 in UNC condition is not commonly encountered. The revolutionary period was marked by numerous competing currency issues and significant attrition through circulation and loss. However, this note is not exceptionally rare, as the Constitutional Government maintained relatively substantial printing runs for higher denominations to support military and governmental operations. The UNC grade elevates its collector value considerably, as most surviving examples show signs of age and circulation.
Issued on May 28, 1913, by the Constitutional Government of Mexico during the tumultuous Mexican Revolution, this note was authorized under the Decree of April 26, 1913, and issued from Moctezuma, Coahuila. The Gobierno Constitucionalista represented the federal forces opposed to the Huerta regime, making this currency a significant artifact of the competing monetary authorities during the revolution. The elaborate calligraphic design and bureaucratic ceremonial language reflect the attempt to establish governmental legitimacy through sophisticated currency presentation during a period of political and military fragmentation.
This banknote eschews portraiture in favor of elaborate geometric and ornamental design work, reflecting security printing conventions of the era and the transitional nature of revolutionary currency. The front features a cream-colored field with complex interlocking corner medallions, ornate scrollwork flourishes, and calligraphic denominational text within decorative boxes. The denomination '100' appears prominently in ornate numerals on both sides. The reverse displays the same sophisticated ornamental vocabulary in warm orange and rust tones, with a symmetrical composition emphasizing the official decree language and governmental authority. The security features include red serial number inking and intricate border patterns designed to prevent counterfeiting. The overall aesthetic reflects late 19th/early 20th-century Mexican banking design standards adapted for revolutionary government legitimacy.
FRONT SIDE: 'Gobierno Constitucionalista de México' (Constitutional Government of Mexico) / 'CIEN PESOS' (One Hundred Pesos) / 'VALE POR' (Is Worth) / 'Serie F' (Series F) / 'Nº 1363343' (Number 1363343) / 'que la Tesorería rubricará y pagará de acuerdo con el Decreto del 26 de abril de 1913' (which the Treasury will initial and pay in accordance with the Decree of April 26, 1913) / 'Moctezuma, Coah., 28 de mayo de 1913' (Moctezuma, Coahuila, May 28, 1913) / 'JEFE DEL DEPARTAMENTO DE HACIENDA:' (Chief of the Treasury Department) / 'TESORERO GENERAL:' (General Treasurer) / BACK SIDE: 'GOBIERNO CONSTITUCIONALISTA DE MÉXICO' (Constitutional Government of Mexico) / 'CIEN PESOS' (One Hundred Pesos) / 'ESTE BILLETE CIRCULARÁ DE ACUERDO CON EL DECRETO DEL 26 DE ABRIL DE 1913' (This banknote will circulate in accordance with the Decree of April 26, 1913)
Intaglio printing with multiple color separations, producing the sharp, precise line work visible in the ornamental borders and calligraphic elements. The two-color printing scheme (cream with black/gray inking on obverse; orange with black inking on reverse) employed separate plates for each color, with the red serial numbers applied in a third pass. This multi-stage intaglio process was typical of high-security government currency printing of the 1913 period. The printer is not explicitly identified on the note itself, though the quality and sophistication suggest a major Mexican security printer of the era.
Series F variant as indicated by the 'Serie F' designation. Serial number 1363343 suggests this is from a significant print run. The May 28, 1913 issue date from Moctezuma, Coahuila is consistent with the Constitutional Government's administrative location during this period. No overprints or later alterations are evident. Varieties for Pick S635a may exist based on series letters, signature variations, and specific date ranges; this appears to be a mid-series example from the initial authorized issue period.
