Mexico – State of Chihuahua 1914 1 Peso "Dos Caritas" (Serie A, Control T-AHR)

• Issuing Authority: State of Chihuahua (El Estado de Chihuahua) under General Francisco "Pancho" Villa

• Denomination: 1 Peso (Un Peso)

• Plate Decree Date: 10 de Febrero de 1914 (Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México)

• Series: Serie A

• Catalog Reference: Pick # S534 / S535

• Serial Number: № 5875738 (Printed in red typography at lower left and lower right)

• Face Portraits:

  • Left: Abraham González (Governor of Chihuahua and revolutionary patron to Pancho Villa)

  • Right: Francisco I. Madero (President of Mexico and early leader of the 1910 Revolution)

• Reverse Vignette: The Chihuahua State Government Palace (Palacio de Gobierno)

• Reverse Control Markings:

  • Red scalloped circular seal: Tesorería General del Estado - Chihuahua (Right flank)

  • Red series control overprint: T-AHR (Left flank)

  • Center: Plain courtyard (no central red datestamp)

• Face Ink Bleed / Stamp Ghosting: Noticeable red ink bleed-through/offset appears on the obverse face, particularly around the portrait frame of Francisco I. Madero and the left border, transferred from stacked fresh sheets or heavy pressure during the treasury handstamping process.

Historical Context

• Known universally as the "Dos Caritas" (Two Little Faces) banknote, this was the primary circulating paper currency issued to finance Pancho Villa’s División del Norte.

• While the engraved plate bears the original February 10, 1914 decree date, notes like this were processed, stamped, and put into circulation across late 1914 and 1915.

• The T-AHR control letters on the reverse, alongside the official state treasury seal, served as batch tracking and anti-counterfeiting verification marks to distinguish legitimate military emissions from counterfeit border bills.

Technical & Visual Assessment

• Technical Grade: Fine to Very Fine (F 15 – VF 20)

• Preservation Highlights:

  • Paper Integrity: Authentic, circulated fibrous paper with good body, though showing more handling wear along the edges than your earlier pieces.

  • Margins & Edge Flaws: Complete margins, but with visible perimeter wear: a small nick/tear on the top right margin (visible at bottom left when inverted) and slight roughness along the lower margin.

  • Folds & Creasing: Moderate circulation handling with a distinct vertical center fold, minor secondary handling wrinkles, and softness along the corners.

  • Surface Toning & Soiling: Honest age toning and light handling soiling across the border margins, typical of raw, unwashed Mexican Revolutionary campaign scrip.

  • Print Contrast: Deep, dark blue intaglio ink for the primary engravings. Serial numbers 5875738 and the reverse T-AHR overprint remain clear and distinct.