Mexico – State of Chihuahua 1915 5 Pesos "Dos Caritas" (Serie H / Enero 1915, Control X-LMN)

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

• Denomination: 5 Pesos (Cinco Pesos)

• Plate Decree & Series Date:

  • Base Military Decree: 10 de Febrero de 1914

  • Issue Date: SERIE H / ENERO 1915 (Flanking the center decree text)

• Catalog Reference: Pick # S537b (January 1915 plate variety)

• Serial Number: № 2477883 (Printed in red typography at lower left and lower right)

• Face Portraits:

  • Left: Abraham González (Governor of Chihuahua and Pancho Villa's mentor)

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

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

• Reverse Markings & Cachets:

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

  • Black series control overprint: X-LMN (Left flank)

  • Center courtyard: Plain (no printed military datestamp)

Technical & Visual Assessment

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

• Preservation Highlights:

  • Paper Body & Crispness: Stiff, clean original paper with significantly more crispness and structural body than the heavily circulated FAI-N example.

  • Margins & Edges: Complete, even margins framing the entire design. Corners remain reasonably square with no paper loss, heavy fraying, or margin tears.

  • Folds & Handling: Two to three light vertical handling folds/bends, but the paper lies completely flat without heavy breaks or softening along the fibers.

  • Surface Condition: Clean face and back with natural cream toning. Very light handling smudges along the fold lines on the reverse, but no heavy stains or pinholes.

  • Stamping Clarity: Bold, crisp strikes on both black reverse verification markings (Tesorería General seal and X-LMN control block).