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500 Pesos El Banco del Estado de Chihuahua
| Issuer | El Banco del Estado de Chihuahua |
|---|---|
| Year | 1913 |
| Type | Local banknote |
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|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | El Banco Del Estado De Chihuahua Pagara al portador en efectivo segun decreto del 12 de diciembre de mil novecientos trece. Quinientos Pesos Valor oro nacional (Translation: The State Bank of Chihuahua will pay the bearer in cash according to the decree of December 12, one thousand nine hundred and thirteen. 500 Pesos National gold value) |
| Reverse description | Printed entirely in orange on white paper, the reverse centres on a circular vignette containing the Mexican national coat of arms — an eagle perched on a cactus and devouring a serpent, surrounded by a laurel and oak wreath — set within an elaborate engine-turned guilloche frame. The denomination '500' appears in white relief numerals within large rosette panels to left and right of the central medallion. The inscriptions 'BANCO DEL' and 'ESTADO DE CHIHUAHUA' are contained in rectangular panels at the top and bottom borders respectively, and the printer's imprint 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, NEW YORK' appears in small type at the lower margin. |
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| Comments |
El Banco del Estado de Chihuahua was Pancho Villa's bank — formally established under his military governorship in late 1913 to fund the División del Norte. This 500 Peso note is among the higher denominations of that issue, printed by the American Bank Note Company in New York, a somewhat remarkable arrangement given that Villa was simultaneously at war with a federal government that maintained at least nominal diplomatic standing with the United States.
The notes were widely counterfeited and their acceptance fluctuated sharply with Villa's military fortunes. By 1915, after his defeat at Celaya, Chihuahua-issue currency collapsed in value almost overnight.