5 Pesos Crédito del Estado de Tamaulipas

Tamaulipas was one of several Mexican states that issued its own paper currency during the mid-1870s, a period when the federal government lacked the infrastructure to supply adequate coinage to the northern frontier. State-level emission was tolerated by Mexico City rather than formally authorized — a distinction that mattered enormously when redemption disputes arose.

The "Crédito del Estado" designation tied these notes directly to state treasury obligations rather than a chartered bank, meaning their value rested entirely on Tamaulipas's fiscal position. Circulation along the U.S.-Mexico border added a further complication, as notes sometimes crossed into Texas commerce before finding their way back for redemption — or not at all.