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1914 also saw the production of the most famous coin of the Mexican Revolution – the Muera Huerta (Death to Huerta) peso. The coin was struck in the town of Cuencame, Durango, under the supervision of villista Generals Calixto Contreras and Severino Ceniceros. Cuencame, in northeastern Durango, was outside of the area of influence of General Domingo Arrieta. President/General Huerta was so infuriated by this coin that he ordered that anyone found in possession of one be summarily executed. |
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General Callixto Contreras |
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General Severino Ceniceros |
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First Chief Venustiano Carranza, still smarting from Villa’s refusal to stop issuing money, attempted to take over the administration of the Constitutionalist Army finances by issuing a series of notes in March of 1914. This series was issued in the name of the Ejército Constitu-cionalista de México (Constituionalist Army of Mexico). Although the notes indicate that they were issued from the capital of Chihuahua, there were actually issued from Nogales, Sonora. The notes were issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 20 pesos. They are frequently confused with the Villista issues of Chihuahua, which is probably what Carranza intended. They did not circulate to any extent in Villista territory. They gained a moderately wide circulation, but only within areas controlled by Carranza. |
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Victory Lost – 2 |
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The failure of the Ejército Constitucionalista de México notes to catch on more widely, led Carranza to authorize General Alvaro Obregón, commanding the Cuerpo del Ejército del Noroeste (Corps of the Army of the Northwest), to issue paper money at his discretion. On Obregón’s authority, notes of La Pagaduría Genenral de la Brigada de Sinaloa (The Paymaster General of the Sinaloa Brigade) were issued in denominations of 25 and 50 centavos, 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 pesos. All of these notes were dated August 21, 1914. |
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Obregón’s influence extended to the peninsula of Lower California. La Jefatura Politica, Gobierno Constitucionalista, Territorio de la Baja Cfa. (The Office of the Political Chief, Constitutionalist Government, Territory of Lower California), issued a series of notes under Obregón’s authority. The note below is printed on gray pasteboard. The series also includes a 5 Pesos note printed on green pasteboard, a 10 Pesos note on maroon pasteboard, and a 20 Pesos on light pink thin paper. |
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Having fought its way down the west coast of Mexico, the Ejercito del Noroeste (Army of the Northwest), under future-president Alvaro Obregón, occupied Guadalajara, the capital city of Jalisco, in mid-1914. Obregón issued this series of notes in denominations of 50 centavos, 1, 5, 10, and 20 pesos. All notes of this series are dated August 1, 1914. This is the only series of revolutionary notes of which I am aware that has a “military” theme either obverse or reverse. |
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The withdrawal of the state chartered banks from the business of issuing paper money was felt all over Mexico by mid-year. States, municipalities, businesses and even some individuals began issuing paper. It seemed that “everybody and his brother” who had access to a printing press was churning out fiat paper.
The State of Yucatan had seen only sporadic revolutionary activity since 1910. Even so, the shortage of circulating currency afflicted Yucatan as it did the rest of Mexico. In an unusual collaboration, the Comisión Reguladora del Mercado de Henequén (Regulatory Commission of the Henequen Market) and La Tesorería General del Estado (the State General Treasury) cooperated in the issue of paper money for Yucatan. Notes were issued in denominations of 20 and 50 centavos, 1, 5, and 20 pesos. The 20 and 50 centavos notes were dated July 27, 1914. The 1, 5, and 20 pesos notes were dated November 20, 1914. This issue seems more of an “emergency” measure to alleviate a shortage of circulating money, than a “revolutionary” issue. |
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In the state of Sinaloa, “small change” seemed to be the problem. This issue by the state treasury was in denominations of 10, 20, and 50 centavos. The first issue, dated February 25, 1914, was later supplemented by an issue of 50 centavos notes on April 10, 1914. |
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Issuing paper money was not confined to large military formations. Many local cabecillas also issued currency for use in their immediate area. In the State of Puebla, General Antonio Medina issued notes in denominations of 50 centavos and 1 peso under the aegis of the Ejército Constitucionalista – Brigada Serdán (Constitutionalist Army – Serdán Brigade). |
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Named for Aquiles Serdán, the first martyr of the Madero Revolution, killed in a gun fight on November 18, 1910, at Puebla while resisting arrest by federal authorities, the brigade was first organized by General Juan Andreu Almazán. |
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At Tampico, in the State of Tamaulipas, General Luis Caballero issued notes in denominations of 50 centavos and 1 peso in the name of La Caja de la Brigada Caballero (the Caballero Brigade Treasury). He also issued a rare 20 pesos note in the name of the Ejército Constitucionalista de México. |
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The generals, soldiers and civilians of south central Mexico greatly preferred precious metal to paper. Holding the silver-rich state of Guerrero, Zapata ordered the production of coins to meet this preference. As a result, those areas under the influence of General Zapata saw very little paper money. All of the zapatista coins came from the State of Guerrero. They were apparently struck at two locations – an unknown location for the Estado de Guerrero coins, and Campo Morado for the coins bearing that mint marking. |
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State of Guerrero 1 peso |
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State of Guerrero 2 pesos |
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Campo Morado, Guerrero 1 peso |
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Late in the year, General Zapata was convinced by his advisors to establish a bank to function as a source of loans for small farmers, small businesses, and villages. He ordered the establishment of the Banco Revolucionario de Guerrero (Revolutionary Bank of Guerrero). Notes were produced in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 pesos from October into November, 1914. Never “officially” issued, some notes did “escape” into circulation. |
