5 pesos 1913
Market Prices
About This Note
This is a 5 pesos banknote from Banco de San Luis Potosí dated October 15, 1913, printed by American Bank Note Company (ABNC). The note features a portrait of Mariano Arista on the obverse with allegorical female figures representing state virtues, and the Mexican national eagle on the reverse within an ornate wreath. In Fair condition, this well-circulated historical note shows significant age-related wear including creases, fold marks, foxing, and yellowing, characteristic of early 20th-century Mexican regional bank currency that has been in circulation for over a century.
common. eBay pricing data shows a wide range from $30 to $999.99 USD depending on condition, with most circulated and 'Unknown' condition examples trading between $30-$85 USD, and uncirculated examples commanding $69.95 to $575 USD. A note in Fair condition like this specimen, based on the price distribution, would typically fall in the $30-$50 range, indicating substantial availability in the secondary market. Banco de San Luis Potosí was one of several authorized regional banks with relatively substantial production runs during 1898-1913. No evidence of short print runs, recalls, or scarcity is evident from the catalog data or market activity.
This banknote was issued during a tumultuous period in Mexican history—the Mexican Revolution was in full swing in 1913, the same year this note was printed. Banco de San Luis Potosí was one of several regional Mexican banks authorized to issue currency before the centralization of Mexican banking. The portrait of Mariano Arista, a 19th-century Mexican statesman and former president, reflected the bank's appeal to national identity and stability during a period of profound political upheaval.
The obverse features a formal portrait of Mariano Arista (1802-1855), a prominent Mexican general and former president, centered in an oval frame and wearing 19th-century formal dress with bow tie. He is flanked by large decorative numerals '5' in ornate rosettes. To the right is a shield-shaped vignette containing two allegorical female figures in classical style, representing virtues or concepts of the state. The design employs black engraving on a green and yellow underprint with intricate floral and geometric border patterns. The reverse depicts the Mexican national eagle with outstretched wings within a circular wreath, surrounded by large numerals '5' in decorative cartouches on both sides, framed by elaborate wave-pattern borders. The color scheme features teal/blue-green on the reverse with aged beige undertones throughout.
FRONT: 'EL BANCO DE SAN LUIS POTOSÍ' (The Bank of San Luis Potosí); 'Cinco Pesos' (Five Pesos); 'LA VISTA AL PORTADOR' (Payable to Bearer); 'SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, MÉXICO, 15 DE OCTUBRE DE 1913' (San Luis Potosí, Mexico, October 15, 1913); 'INTERVENTOR DEL GOBIERNO' (Government Auditor); 'CONTADOR' (Accountant); 'American Bank Note Co.' (printer); Serial number: 78577. BACK: 'BANCO DE SAN LUIS POTOSÍ' (Bank of San Luis Potosí); 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, NEW YORK' (printer location); '2 CENT' (postal stamp notation).
This note was produced using steel engraving, the standard security printing method of the era. American Bank Note Company (ABNC), one of the world's premier security printers, executed the intricate intaglio engraving with fine line work, detailed vignettes, and ornamental patterns designed to prevent counterfeiting. The use of multiple colors (black, green, yellow on obverse; teal/blue-green on reverse) indicates separate plate printing for each color layer, a sophisticated technique employed by ABNC for high-security currency.
This note is catalogued as Pick S399c, indicating it is variety 'c' of the 5 pesos issue from this bank. The reference data indicates three known printing dates within the series: 10.3.1903, 8.11.1911, and 15.10.1913 (Series C). This specific specimen bears the October 15, 1913 date (15.10.1913), making it from Series C, the final issue date before the end of regional bank note circulation. Serial number 78577 is recorded, and the note bears signatures corresponding to the government auditor and accountant positions typical of this bank's issues. The red serial number ink and postal/archival marking ('LP-83' notation) are consistent with notes that entered institutional or collector collections.
