5 pesos 1913
About This Note
This is a 5 pesos provisional note issued by the Estado de Sonora in 1913 during Mexico's tumultuous Revolutionary period, featuring the official seals of the Mexican Republic and the State of Sonora on the obverse. The note exhibits Fair condition with significant aging, foxing, and visible creases consistent with a well-circulated historical document from over a century ago, bearing blue cancellation marks that suggest it saw actual use in commerce before being preserved.
Common. This is a provisional state note from the Mexican Revolution era, a period when numerous regional authorities issued currency. While historically significant, these Sonora provisional notes saw actual circulation and were produced in reasonable quantities. The Pick catalog listing (P-S1067b) indicates this is a recognized but not exceptionally scarce variety. Notes in Fair condition are typical for circulated Revolutionary-era Mexican currency and do not command premium valuations.
Issued on August 27, 1913, under Decree No. 13 by Governor José Ma. Maytorena during the Mexican Revolution, this provisional currency represents the State of Sonora's autonomous monetary response to national financial instability. The formal governmental seals—particularly the eagle emblem of the Mexican Republic and the state seal with radiating sun design—reflect the issuer's assertion of legitimacy and sovereignty during a period when regional authorities issued their own currency due to disruptions in national monetary supply.
The obverse displays a formal governmental layout anchored by two official seals: on the upper left, a circular seal of the Mexican Republic featuring the national eagle (águila), and on the upper right, a red circular seal with radiating lines representing the State of Sonora's emblem. The design incorporates decorative shell and fan motifs in the upper corners and ornamental border patterns throughout, typical of early 20th-century Latin American currency design. The center bears the text 'ESTADO DE SONORA' prominently, with multiple signature lines for the Governor (Maytorena), the state treasurer, and other officials positioned in the lower portion. The reverse presents a minimalist design with 'ESTADO DE SONORA' and '$5.00' denominations centered, framed by ornamental borders with symmetrical fan-shaped corner flourishes, emphasizing administrative rather than pictorial elements.
FRONT: 'EL ESTADO DE SONORA' (The State of Sonora) / 'REPUBLICA MEXICANA' (Mexican Republic) / 'ESTADO LIBRE Y SOBERANO DE SONORA' (Free and Sovereign State of Sonora) / 'DECRETO NUM. 13' (Decree Number 13) / 'AL PORTADOR EN EFECTIVO' (Payable to Bearer in Cash) / 'CONFORME AL 27 DE AGOSTO DE 1913' (In Accordance With August 27th, 1913) / 'Hermosillo, Sonora, México' / '$5.00' and 'No 5669' (denomination and serial number) / 'EL GOBERNADOR José Ma. Maytorena' (The Governor) / 'EL O. M. E. DE LA S. Juan Sánchez Lacona' (The O.M.E. of the S.) / 'EL TESORERO GENERAL' (The General Treasurer) / '2A SERIE' (2nd Series) / 'IMP. DEL ESTADO' (State Printing) / 'PROVISIONAL' (Provisional). BACK: '$5.00 ESTADO DE SONORA $5.00' repeated with decorative corner elements.
This note was produced using letterpress printing (relief printing), as evidenced by the sharp, clearly defined borders, text clarity, and the characteristic appearance of official seals and decorative elements visible in the images. The technique was typical for provisional currency issued by Mexican state governments during the Revolutionary period. The State Printing Office ('IMP. DEL ESTADO') of Sonora produced this note using traditional printing methods available in provincial Mexico in 1913.
This note is identified as Pick P-S1067b (the 'b' variant designation), issued as part of the '2A SERIE' (2nd Series) as marked on the obverse. Serial number 5669 is visible on this example. The provisional nature ('PROVISIONAL' marking) indicates this was emergency currency issued under specific Revolutionary circumstances. The note bears signatures of Governor José Ma. Maytorena and other state officials, with the formal decree date of August 27, 1913, clearly stated, establishing its precise issue period within the Constitutionalist phase of the Mexican Revolution.
