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The catalogs used to construct this history list numerous overprints and validation stamps for the money of the Mexican revolution, however, they certainly don’t list all of them. Also, inconsistent methods of listing overprints and validation stamps in the Pick catalog adds to the “fun”.
The confusion raised by the ebb and flow of the various revolutionary factions across populated areas caused a number of agencies to “validate” currencies for circulation within their bailiwicks. As a result, large numbers of notes were overprinted and/or stamped to indicate to the locals that paper was “good” and acceptable for exchange within each given area.
If the aesthetic values of revolutionary paper money sometimes seems lacking, the use of overprints and validation stamps is infinitely worse. Most of the validation stamps seem to have been done by hand and in haste. Consequently, clear and crisp impressions are the exception rather than the rule. For the advanced collector of Mexican Revolutionary paper, the collection of overprints and validation stamps can offer a real, and very interesting challenge. |
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OVERPRINTS AND VALIDATION STAMPS |
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By far the most abundant Overprints are those of the Mexico City series of Gobierno Provisional notes which were over-printed and re-issued by the Conventionist government of Provisional President Eulalio Gutiérrez at the end of 1914. The civil war between the Constitu-tionalists under Carranza and the Conventionists under Gutiérrez had just begun. This re-issue never achieved wide circulation and most denominations (from 1 through 100 pesos) are available in virtually uncirculated condition at reasonable prices. This revalidation over-print also occurs on notes of individual states (most notably Chihuahua), but the overprinted state notes are scarce and difficult to obtain. |
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Use of the REVALIDADO overprint on notes other than those of the Gobierno Provisional de México of Mexico City is much less common. Consequently, such notes are of more value to collectors. The example above bears both the REVALIDADO and a Torreon, .Coahuila validation stamp dating from Villa’s occupation of the city in Spring 1914.
Although most of the issuers of revolutionary paper were punctilious in citing decrees providing authority for their issues, this revalidation from the State of Durango (below) cites only the Governor and his Secretary. |
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The number of validation stamps certainly exceeds 50, and unknown examples are constantly coming to light. Normally, they were applied with a rubber stamp. The few that were printed are obvious from their sharpness and uniformity. The note at the top of the following page show a “typical” validation stamping. Clear, readable stamps have an additional value to collectors. |
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“Typical” validation stamps These stamps appear on the blank back of a 50 centavos note issued by the Tesorería de la Junta Comercial de Chalchicomula, Puebla. A private issue, it has been validated by the district ayuntamiento, or counsel (upper left), and by the Jefatura de Armas. Neither stamp is completely readable. The collector will be faced with stamps of this quality far more often than with readable ones.
Below are some examples of validation stamps grouped by type of issuing agency. MILITARY: |
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This stamp of the Pagaduría General (Paymaster General) at Torreón, Coahuila, is from spring 1914. It is found on the back of a Chihuahua “Tesorería General del Estado” 5 pesos note. |
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The large central “stamp”, which in this case is printed, is the seal of the División del Bravo of the National Army. The seal to the left is that of the State Treasury; the one to the right, the Governor of the State of Nuevo León. |
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The seal of the Interventor (Judge Advocate General), Headquarters, Division of the Northwest is found on a Sinaloa note of the Paymaster General of the Sinaloa Brigade. |
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The seal of the General-in-Chief, División del Yaqui (Yaqiu Division – a Federal unit) appears on the back of this little civilian note of Sonora. |
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Another Sonoran note bears the seal of the División del Yaqui and the rubber-stamped initials J. C. T. of General-in-Chief Joaquin C. Tellez. |
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One of the most common Military validation stamps is the Fuerzas del Estado – Detall General of Sonora. It is most commonly found on the villista Estado de Chihuahua notes of 1914 – 1915. |
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This little note from the Territory of Tepic (now the State of Nayarit) bears the validation stamp of the Brigada Buelna. |
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This composite of the seal of the Brigada Moreno was constructed using cartones of the Ejército Convencionista, Autlán, Jalisco. Validation stamps of Conventionist units are few and difficult to locate. |
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The seal of the Jefatura de Armas, Division del Norte, Ejercito Constitucionalista, appears on the back of a Gobierno Constitucionalista de Mexico note issued by First Chief Venustiano Carranza in May 1913. This validation is known to date from October 1913. |
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This note of the Tesorería Federal from Saltillo, Coahuila, bears the seal of the Chief of Arms of the State of Coahuila. |
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In spite of the fact that the División de Occidente (Division of the West), under General Manuel Diéguez, constantly fought against General Villa’s forces, this validation stamp of Diéguez’ division appears on a villista Estado de Chihuahua note. The note is of Serie K, issued at Chihuahua in January 1915, and is contemporary with the struggle between Diéguez and Villa for control of the city of Guadalajara. |
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The preceding is only a small sample of the military validation stamps that appear on Mexican Revolutionary paper money. |