20 pesos 1914
Market Prices
About This Note
An exceptional example of a 20 pesos note issued by Banco de Guerrero in 1914, rendered in black ink on green underprint by the American Bank Note Company. The obverse features a striking historical military scene with uniformed officers and soldiers in an oval vignette, while the reverse displays a detailed coastal landscape—likely Acapulco—with fine line engraving work. Graded UNC, this note exhibits crisp printing, clear inscriptions, and excellent preservation with minimal age-related discoloration, making it a desirable example of Mexican regional banking currency from the tumultuous Revolutionary era.
Common. eBay market data for this note type shows circulated examples ranging from $59–$95 USD and UNC examples at approximately $35.96 USD, indicating steady but not strong collector demand. The Banco de Guerrero issued this design across Series A and B during 1906–1914, with substantial print runs by ABNC. While the specific date attribution (1914 vs. 1906) remains uncertain according to catalog notes, no evidence suggests limited production. The note is collectible but not scarce; many examples appear in the market at modest prices.
Issued during Mexico's 1910-1920 Revolution, the Banco de Guerrero's 20 pesos note captures the military and geopolitical tensions of the period through its central vignette depicting uniformed soldiers and historical conflict. The reverse's depiction of Acapulco as a coastal settlement reflects the state's strategic importance, while the government positions listed (Interventor del Gobierno, Consejero, Gerente) underscore the institutional formality regional banks maintained despite the nation's instability. This Series B issue represents the bank's effort to establish financial legitimacy during a period when many regional Mexican banks issued currency with uncertain backing.
The obverse features an ornate design with black ink on green underprint, centered around an oval-framed military vignette depicting a historical war scene with multiple uniformed officers and soldiers—likely representing a key moment from the Mexican-American War or Mexican Independence conflicts relevant to Guerrero's history. This central composition is surrounded by elaborate decorative borders with floral and geometric scrollwork patterns, with the denomination '20' displayed in four ornamental cartouches at the corners. Official titles and government positions appear at the base, reinforcing institutional authority. The reverse presents a contrasting landscape vignette rendered in black on light background, depicting Acapulco as a coastal city with water body, settlements, vegetation, and distant hills—a representation of the state's geographic and economic identity. Wave-pattern borders frame the design, with denomination cartouches on both left and right sides. The American Bank Note Company's New York attribution appears on both sides, confirming ABNC as the security printer.
FRONT: 'VEINTE' / 'Twenty' (denomination in Spanish); '20' (numeric denomination, four corners); 'Nº28119' / 'Serial number 28119'; 'de 19' / 'of 19' (year reference); 'Iguala,' / 'Iguala,' (location); 'SALVAGUARDA AL PORTADOR' / 'Safeguard to the Bearer' (promise clause); 'LA VISTA AVA PAREMI' / 'At sight payable' (payment clause); 'EFECTIVO' / 'Cash/Effective'; 'veinte Pesos' / 'twenty Pesos'; 'BANCO DE GUERRERO' / 'Bank of Guerrero' (issuer); 'INTERVENTOR DEL GOBIERNO' / 'Government Interventor'; 'CONSEJERO' / 'Counselor'; 'GERENTE' / 'Manager' (official titles); 'SERIE B' / 'Series B'; 'American Bank Note Co. New York' (printer attribution). BACK: 'BANCO' / 'Bank'; 'DE GUERRERO' / 'of Guerrero'; '20' (numeric denomination, both sides); 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, NEW YORK' (printer attribution).
Intaglio engraving (line engraving and steel plate engraving), as evidenced by the fine line work, intricate crosshatching, dotted/stippled effects, and detailed geometric patterns visible throughout both sides. The complexity of the border work, portrait rendering, and landscape vignette indicates skilled engraving techniques typical of American Bank Note Company's high-security currency production. The use of colored underprinting (green on obverse, light blue-gray tones on reverse) was applied as part of ABNC's multi-color security printing process.
Series B designation, as noted on the obverse and confirmed by catalog reference (Pick S300b). Serial number 28119 in red ink. Catalog notes indicate uncertainty regarding the 1914 date attribution versus earlier 1906 production, requesting confirmation from collectors. The 'AMORTIZADO' (cancelled/amortized) perforation referenced in the catalog data does not appear to be present on this specimen, suggesting either: (1) this is an uncancelled/unissued note, or (2) the perforation occurs on other known examples. The green underprint and blue-gray reverse toning are consistent with documented characteristics of this issue.
