5 pesos 1914
About This Note
A Mexican 5 Pesos banknote from 1914 issued by the División del Bravo, a revolutionary military faction during the Mexican Revolution. The note features a prominent eagle with spread wings in a central oval medallion on the obverse, with an ornate allegorical scene and mythological creatures on the reverse. This VF-graded example shows significant age-appropriate wear including creasing, yellowing, and fading, along with handwritten signatures and what appears to be a validation stamp, reflecting its historical circulation during a turbulent period of Mexican history.
Common. Revolutionary-era Mexican banknotes from this period, including División del Bravo issues, were produced in moderate quantities across several denominations and series. While specific revolutionary faction notes are less commonly encountered than central bank issues, the División del Bravo operated a significant military organization in Monterrey with sufficient territorial and temporal control to issue substantial quantities of currency. The VF condition grade and Series A designation suggest this was part of a regular production run rather than an emergency limited issue. No evidence suggests this Pick number had restricted mintage, recall status, or exceptional rarity.
The División del Bravo was a military command structure operating in northern Mexico during the Mexican Revolution, headquartered in Monterrey. The inscription 'ESTE BILLETE ES DE EMISION FORZOSA' (This note is of forced circulation) reflects the emergency currency practices of revolutionary factions, as various military commands issued their own notes to finance operations when central government authority was fractured. The date of January 8, 1914, places this issue during the height of factional conflict, with multiple agencies (Treasury Chief, State Governor, and General in Chief) required to validate the currency.
The obverse features a central oval medallion containing a heraldic eagle displayed with wings spread, symbolizing Mexican national authority and sovereignty. The composition is framed by ornamental wreaths and corner medallions containing peso sign symbols ($). The background employs fine crosshatch guilloche patterns for security. The reverse presents an allegorical scene with classical figures in robes, likely representing Liberty, Justice, or other virtues of the Mexican state, flanked by ornate baroque mythological creatures or dragons in scrollwork. A circular stamp or seal overlay in blue ink appears to be a validation or cancellation mark applied during circulation. The overall aesthetic reflects late 19th/early 20th-century banknote design conventions with classical allegorical imagery and fine engraving.
FRONT: 'REPÚBLICA MEXICANA' (Mexican Republic), 'DIVISIÓN DEL BRAZO' (Division of the Arm/Branch), 'LA NACIÓN PAGARÁ' (The Nation Will Pay), 'CUARTEL GENERAL' (General Headquarters), 'CINCO PESOS' (Five Pesos), 'No 07043' (Number 07043), 'Serie A' (Series A), '$5' (Five Pesos), 'Monterrey', '8 de Enero' (January 8th), 'El Jefe de Hacienda' (The Treasury Chief), 'El Gobernador del Estado' (The Governor of the State), 'El General en Jefe' (The General in Chief). BACK: 'ESTE BILLETE ES DE EMISION FORZOSA' (This note is of forced circulation), 'DE HACIENDA' (Of the Treasury), 'MONTERREY', 'ENERO' (January), '8 DE ENERO' (January 8th).
This note was produced using intaglio (engraved steel plate) printing, evidenced by the fine detailed line work, sharp character definition, and the intricate guilloche patterns visible throughout. The security printing includes elaborate baroque scrollwork and mythological imagery requiring skilled engraving. The decorative borders and allegorical scenes are characteristic of security printers specializing in government currency during this era. The crosshatch background pattern and fine linear details are hallmarks of period-appropriate security printing designed to prevent counterfeiting.
This example is Series A, Number 07043, dated January 8, 1914, from Monterrey. The note bears three handwritten signatures corresponding to the Treasury Chief, State Governor, and General in Chief—positions that likely varied across issuance periods. Known varieties of División del Bravo 5 Peso notes include different signature combinations, series designations (A, B, etc.), and date variations reflecting multiple authorization periods. The blue circular stamp/seal overlay may represent a specific validation mark or secondary processing that distinguishes this example within the series.
