5 pesos 1901-03
Market Prices
5 salesAbout This Note
An exceptionally well-preserved 5 pesos banknote from El Banco de Sonora, rendered in tan and beige with crisp black engraving details throughout. The obverse features a young woman's portrait in an oval medallion on the left, a classical female allegorical figure ('Strength') on the right, and a cherub in the upper center, all surrounded by elaborate ornamental borders. The reverse displays a symmetrical design with circular medallions containing the numeral 5 and intricate decorative scrollwork. In AU condition with no visible wear, creases, or stains, this unissued remainder represents a high-quality example of American Bank Note Company's craftsmanship for a regional Mexican issuer.
Common. While eBay transaction data is limited, the available pricing shows notes in similar conditions (VF to UNC) consistently selling in the $25–$40 range, with PMG-graded examples at $66–$82. These moderate market prices indicate no scarcity premium. The note is identified in the realbanknotes.com reference as an 'unissued remainder' from a series produced across 1897–1911 in multiple series designations (DI, DN, DU, DZ), suggesting substantial production runs survived. Banco de Sonora operated for over a decade, reducing the likelihood of a limited print run for any single denomination/date combination. The AU condition grade is relatively common for remainder notes, as unissued examples were not subject to circulation wear.
El Banco de Sonora operated during Mexico's late Porfiriato period (1897-1911), when regional private banks issued their own currency under federal supervision. The allegorical imagery—particularly the 'Strength' figure and cherub—reflects the neoclassical design conventions favored by the American Bank Note Company, emphasizing stability and prosperity as the Sonora region developed its mining and agricultural economy. The note's inscription referencing 'Mexican Silver' and the Hermosillo location reflects the state's economic importance as a regional financial center during this transformative era.
The obverse features a multi-figure composition typical of high-value Mexican regional currency. The left portrait depicts a young woman with curled hair in a formal oval medallion frame—likely a symbolic or allegorical representation rather than a specific historical figure. The central cherub or putti figure with wings reinforces themes of prosperity and good fortune. The right side displays a classical female allegorical figure in draped clothing holding what appears to be a palm frond, representing 'Strength' or 'Fortitude'—a common personification in 19th-century bank note design. The verso employs a purely ornamental approach with geometric and floral scrollwork arranged symmetrically around the bank name and denomination, a security design strategy to prevent counterfeiting through visual complexity. The overall composition reflects the Belle Époque aesthetic preferred by the American Bank Note Company during this period.
FRONT SIDE: 'EL BANCO DE SONORA' (The Bank of Sonora), 'SOCIEDAD ANONIMA' (Anonymous Society/Joint Stock Company), 'CINCO PESOS' (Five Pesos), 'PAGO AL PORTADOR' (Payment to Bearer), 'EN MONEDA CORRIENTE DE PLATA DEL CUÑO MEXICANO' (In Current Coinage of Mexican Silver), 'SERIE' (Series), 'HERMOSILLO, SONORA, MEXICO' (location), 'INTERVENTOR DEL GOBIERNO' (Government Interventor), 'GERENTE' (Manager), 'PRESIDENTE' (President), 'American Bank Note Co New York' (printer attribution), serial number '330980', series designation 'DK'. BACK SIDE: 'BANCO DE SONORA' (Bank of Sonora), denomination '5' (appears twice in circular medallions), 'American Bank Note Co. New York' (printer attribution).
Intaglio engraving (steel plate engraving) executed by the American Bank Note Company of New York, the preeminent currency printer for Mexican regional banks during this era. The visual evidence of fine line work, cross-hatching throughout the design, intricate ornamental borders, and the exceptional sharpness and clarity of detail visible even in an uncirculated note confirm traditional intaglio methodology. The layered color work (black engraving on tan/beige underprint) suggests a multi-pass printing process typical of ABNC's security banknote production standards.
Series designation 'DK' is observed on this example. The realbanknotes.com catalog notes multiple series varieties (DI, DN, DU, DZ) for the 1897–1911 emission period. This specific note's series 'DK' may represent an additional variant not yet comprehensively cataloged in secondary sources. The serial number 330980 and 'UNISSUED REMAINDER' status align with Pick P-S419r classification. No date imprint is visible on the obverse, consistent with the ND (no date) notation in catalog records; the 1901 catalog date likely reflects the period during which this particular design was in use rather than a printed date on the note itself.
