50 centavos 1914
About This Note
This is a 50 centavos banknote issued by the Tesorería de la Federación in Guaymas, Sonora on March 16, 1914, during Mexico's Revolutionary period. The note features an ornate pink/tan front with repeating text watermarks and Mexican eagle imagery, paired with a striking blue reverse depicting a coastal town scene with colonial architecture, sailing vessels, and mountains. In AU condition, this specimen displays significant age-related patina and handling marks consistent with historical circulation, making it a desirable example of Mexican Revolutionary-era emergency currency.
Common. This is a standard-issue emergency banknote from a well-documented Federal Treasury emission during the Mexican Revolution. While the specific Guaymas branch issue date (March 16, 1914) and Series C designation create minor variety interest, the note was produced in substantial quantities typical of government-backed fiat currency intended for regional circulation. No specific evidence of low print runs, recalls, or scarcity of this Pick number exists. The AU condition grade reflects age-appropriate wear rather than rarity, and specimens are found with relative regularity in collections of Mexican Revolutionary currency.
This emergency currency was issued during the Mexican Revolution by the Federal Treasury's Guaymas branch, authorized under a September 6, 1913 decree when conventional currency was scarce. The reverse vignette depicts a colonial Mexican coastal settlement with period sailing vessels, likely representing Guaymas itself or a significant regional trade port in Sonora state. The ornate design and dual-language liability clause ('pagará al portador') reflect the formal institutional response to wartime monetary chaos, establishing legitimacy for what was essentially fiat currency backed by government promise rather than specie.
The obverse presents a formal institutional design centered on the Mexican Federal Treasury's commitment to redeem the note, employing repeating text watermarks reading 'CuentaCentavos' as a security measure across a pinkish-tan field. The eagle emblem on the right side represents Mexico's national coat of arms. Ornate scrollwork and floral corner decorations frame the central text in period-appropriate 19th-century banking style. The reverse features an engraved landscape vignette in blue and teal tones depicting Guaymas as a thriving colonial port: multiple vessels with full sails populate the harbor, while colonial buildings including a prominent spired church dominate the townscape, backed by dramatic mountainous terrain. This vignette celebrates regional commerce and legitimacy. Large denomination numerals '50' in decorative cartouches anchor both lower corners. The printer's attribution to A. Díaz de León e Hijos of Mazatlán indicates employment of the era's finest Mexican lithographic workshops.
FRONT SIDE: '50' (denomination); 'No. 3650' (serial number); 'Serie C' (Series C); 'LA TESORERIA DE LA FEDERACION' (The Federal Treasury); 'Pagará al portador de acuerdo con la autorización dada a esta Tesorería en 6 de Septiembre de 1913, la cantidad de CINCUENTA CENTAVOS en efectivo' (Will pay the bearer in accordance with the authorization given to this Treasury on September 6, 1913, the amount of FIFTY CENTAVOS in cash); 'GUAYMAS, SONORA, MARZO 16 DE 1914' (Guaymas, Sonora, March 16, 1914); 'CuentaCentavos' (repeating watermark: Fifty Centavos). BACK SIDE: '50' (denomination in lower corners); 'LIT. 'LA NACIONAL.' MAZATLAN.—A. DIAZ DE LEON E HIJOS' (Lithography 'La Nacional,' Mazatlán.—A. Díaz de León and Sons [printer]).
Lithography, as credited on the reverse: 'Lit. La Nacional, Mazatlán—A. Díaz de León e Hijos.' The fine line work visible in the ornate borders, repeating watermark text pattern, and detailed landscape vignette are characteristic of skilled stone lithography from Mexico's premier fin-de-siècle printing houses. The two-color production (pink/tan and blue) employed separate stone plates, a standard approach for Mexican emergency currency of this period.
This specimen is identified as Series C, No. 3650, issued from Guaymas on March 16, 1914. Variety distinctions within this Pick number (P-S1059) typically involve series letters (A, B, C, etc.) and date variations. Known series include multiple letter designations reflecting sequential emissions. No overprints, signature variants, or other distinguishing marks are apparent on this example. The lithographic printing by A. Díaz de León e Hijos remained consistent across the emission series.
