Mexico – State of Chihuahua 1914 5 Pesos "Dos Caritas" (Serie C, Control N-CDMI)

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

• Denomination: 5 Pesos (Cinco Pesos)

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

• Series: Serie C (Marked on either side of the central decree text)

• Catalog Reference: Pick # S537

• Serial Number: № 1026955 (Printed in red typography at lower left and lower right)

• Face Portraits:

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

  • Right: Francisco I. Madero (President of Mexico, martyred during the 1913 coup)

• Obverse Endorsement: Period purple/blue indelible pencil manuscript rubric/signature ("Cenes" or similar flourish) across the lower-center underprint.

• Reverse Vignette: The Chihuahua State Government Palace (Palacio de Gobierno) printed in rose-carmine / terracotta red.

• Reverse Markings & Cachets:

  • Black circular seal: Tesorería General del Estado - Chihuahua (Right flank) with eagle and serpent motif

  • Black series control overprint: N-CDMI (Left flank, an unhyphenated 4-letter block code variant)

  • Center courtyard: Plain (no printed military datestamp)

Technical & Visual Assessment

• Technical Grade: Very Fine (VF 20 – VF 25)

• Preservation Highlights:

  • Paper Body & Crispness: Strong, fibrous paper with good residual crispness and firmness throughout.

  • Margins & Edges: Complete, wide margins on all four borders. Corners are intact with minimal handling blunting and no paper tears or rim splits.

  • Folds & Handling: Two light vertical folds/bends and soft handling waviness consistent with modest commercial or military circulation, but lying flat overall.

  • Surface Condition: Light, honest natural age-toning and mild border smudging. Intact color contrast on both faces without heavy foxing.

  • Stamping Clarity: Both the Tesorería General black scalloped cachet and the N-CDMI control overprint show bold, fully legible impressions.