5 pesos 1913

Common. eBay market data shows consistent sales of this note in VF condition at $8.00 USD, with circulated examples around $12.50-$50.00 USD and uncirculated examples typically $99.99-$199.00 USD. These price points and the frequency of listings indicate this is a regularly traded note with adequate supply. The 1913 Series I issue represented the final large production run before the bank's operations were disrupted by revolutionary events. While not produced in enormous quantities by modern standards, sufficient examples survive to maintain it as a common item in the secondary market.

This banknote was issued during the turbulent Mexican Revolution period, when the Banco de Londres y Mexico continued to function as one of Mexico's major private banking institutions. The imagery reflects both Mexican nationalism (the prominent eagle on the reverse) and the reverence for Benito Juárez, a national hero of the Reform War era whose portrait anchors the obverse design. The October 1, 1913 issue date places this note mere months before political instability would intensify in Mexico City, making late-series notes from this bank increasingly difficult to obtain in circulation today.

The obverse features a formal portrait of Benito Juárez positioned at the left in classical Republican style, rendered in black intaglio with fine stippling. The central focal point is an ornate oval medallion containing an allegorical female figure representing Peace, flanked by cherub figures on the right side of the composition, evoking classical artistic tradition common to late 19th-century banknote design. The reverse displays the Mexican national eagle (águila) as the dominant vignette, centered within an ornate scalloped oval frame and rendered in the same fine intaglio technique. Both sides feature elaborate corner frames containing the denomination numeral '5', geometric border patterns, floral motifs, and fine cross-hatching security elements throughout. The color scheme of black printing on cream/beige paper with green underprint creates strong visual hierarchy and is characteristic of American Bank Note Company work from this era.

FRONT: 'BANCO DE LONDRES Y MEXICO' (Bank of London and Mexico), 'SOCIEDAD ANONIMA' (Anonymous Corporation/Joint Stock Company), '1º de Oct. de 1913' (October 1st, 1913), 'CINCO PESOS' (Five Pesos), 'á la vista' (on sight/on demand), 'PAGADEROS EN LA CIUDAD DE MEXICO' (Payable in Mexico City), 'INTERVENTOR DEL GOBIERNO' (Government Intervener), 'AL PORTADOR EN EFECTIVO' (To Bearer in Cash), 'Nº 1457371' (Serial Number 1457371), 'SERIE I' (Series I), 'CINCO' (Five), 'American Bank Note Co, New York' (Printer attribution). BACK: 'BANCO DE LONDRES Y MEXICO' (Bank of London and Mexico), 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, NEW YORK' (Printer attribution).

Intaglio engraving (line engraving) executed by the American Bank Note Company (ABNC), New York, as indicated by the printer's imprint visible on both sides. The note exhibits hallmark ABNC security features including fine-line engraving with dense cross-hatching patterns, intricate geometric border designs, and color separation between black and green elements achieved through multiple passes of the engraved plates. The detailed vignettes of Juárez and the eagle, as well as the allegorical Peace figure, demonstrate the high skill level typical of ABNC's production standards during this period.

This example is identified as Series I (SERIE I), dated October 1, 1913 (1.10.1913), representing the final dated series of this design according to the Pick catalog. The catalog notes multiple series dating from 1910 through 1913 (Series E through I), with Series I being the latest. The serial number observed (1457371) falls within the H or I series range. The 1913 issue date and Series I designation identify this as the ultimate variety of this 5 pesos design. No overprints or signature variants are apparent in the visual analysis.