K* Awi 3 n RT i ..HAMPSHIRE INTER-LIBRARY^ CENTER %/a NUMISMATIC NO’ AND MONOGRAP No. 4 A 2<' 'V T v % A A ? ; ,4 6 THE MEXICAN REVOLUTIONARY COINAGE 1913-1916 By HOWLAND WOOD THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY BROADWAY AT 156th STREET NEW YORK 1921 PUBLICATIONS The American Journal of Numismatics » 1866 -date. Monthly, May, 1866-April, 1870. Quarterly, July, 1870-October, 1912. Annual, 1913-date. With many plates, illustrations, maps and tables. Less than a dozen complete sets of the Jour- nal remain on hand. Prices on application. Those wishing to fill broken sets can secure most of the needed volumes separately. An index to the first 50 volumes has been issued as part of Volume 51. It may also be pur- chased as a reprint for $3.00. The American Numismatic Society. Catalogue of the International Exhibition of Contempo- rary Medals. March, 1910. New and revised edition. New York. 1911, xxxvi, 412 pages, 512 illustrations. $10.00. The American Numismatic Society. Exhibition of United States and Colonial Coins. 1914. vii, 134 pages, 40 plates. $1.00. NUMISMATIC NOTES & MONOGRAPHS Numismatic Notes and Monographs is devoted to essays and treatises on subjects relating to coins, paper money, medals and decorations, and is uniform with Hispanic Notes and Monographs published by the Hispanic Society of America, and with In- dian Notes and Monographs issued by the Museum of the American Indian-Heye Foundation. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 with funding from Getty Research Institute https://archive.org/details/mexicanrevolutio04wood i 74 The Oaxaca Gold Sixty-Peso Piece iNlo longer the property ot The Library Mount Holyoke College THE MEXICAN REVOLU- TIONARY COINAGE 1913-1916 THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY BROADWAY AT 156th STREET NEW YORK 1921 COPYRIGHT 1921 BY THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY Press of T. R. Marvin & Son, Boston MGEITY CENTER OBRARY 3 o ,3 -S MEXICO 1 THE MEXICAN REVOLUTIONARY COINAGE 1913-1916 By Howland Wood INTRODUCTION War in its various phases has always had its influence on coinage; mints have changed hands or new mints have operated, new types or denominations have resulted, while special coinages, either necessity or emergency, have come out during such periods of unusual disturbance or stress. The bygone coinage of Europe well attests this fact. The money of North and South America has been equally influenced by war and other political disturbances. Ever since the recent revolutionary era began in Mexico, and there were prospects that coins might be issued, it NUMISMATIC NOTES to cry <3 4 2 MEXICO has been the endeavor of The American Numismatic Society to obtain specimens of such coins and the data concerning them. The necessity of collecting all possible in- formation and specimens at the time, while events were fresh and the coins could be acquired, was especially borne in mind. This decision was made chiefly because of the woeful lack of knowledge concerning that previous series of crudely struck coins and counterstamped pieces, issued in Mexico by both the Patriots and Royalists during the War of Independence between 1 8 i~o and 1822. Then, unfortunately, and for a long time afterwards, little attention was paid to those early pieces, and not much pertinent and interesting information concerning them remains to- day; or if it does, it has not been res- urrected for the numismatic fraternity. Although we have much knowledge and data concerning the extensive coinage of Morelos, the Commander of the Army of the South, there is much more we do not know. We have the coinage of General Vargas, struck at Sombrerete in Zacatecas, NUMISMATIC NOTES 1 i 9 i 3 - i 9 i 6 3 but numismatists know little about this man or his coinage. Also there are the various issues struck by the Royalists and the Central Junta, and the many counter- stamped pieces, the product of the time, of which for the most part we are ignorant as to details. This is especially unfortu- nate as these pieces would, with more in- formation, be as interesting as any similar series issued in Europe. Without attempting to trace the history of the present revolution or, rather, series jof revolutions, we can see that the unrest in Mexico, which had been quietly slumber- ing for a number of years, had its beginning about 1910 when General Porfirio Diaz [was elected president for the eighth time, i Although the old gentleman was alive to the mutterings of discontent, he was overpersuaded by his advisers to con- tinue his presidency. In November of that year the revolution started under the leadership of Senor Francisco Madero. Diaz had to leave Mexico in May, 1911, and, after a short period of provisional government, Madero became president. AND MONOGRAPHS 4 MEXICO His rule was short-lived and lasted from November 6, 1911, until February 13, 1913, when a coup d’etat took place and his murder resulted a few days later. Dur- ing the next month rebellions again broke out in the North under the command of Generals Carranza and Villa, although some time before there had been in the South, where Zapata and his followers were strong, a very decided opposition to any of the existing governments. During these first two years, events moved quickly, which resulted in many changes as to politics, but as far as coin issues were concerned we find nothing. With the rapid rise of the Constitu- tionalist forces of the North and the organization of their territory, we begin to get our revolutionary coinage. This was due probably to the urgent need of a more stable currency and the fact that the civil war had already devastated the land, and what money there was formerly had been either buried or exported. The first currency to be issued consisted of enormous quantities of paper money which NUMISMATIC NOTES i 9 i 3 - i 9 i 6 5 were extensively counterfeited and soon became practically valueless. In fact, it looked for a time as though numismatists would be poorly repaid for their trouble in trying to find any coins. As paper money cost practically nothing to issue, and for the most part was put into circulation by force, the necessity of coining money was reduced to a minimum. As a matter of fact when any silver or copper was actu- ally coined, the bullion for it was either stolen or taken over by threats or by force, and the cost of production was conse- quently very small. Even when silver money was issued, it disappeared from circulation almost instantly, as the flood of paper money made it profitable to melt up the new coin or else export it. Large amounts of coin are, nevertheless, in the country from the fact that much has been forced out of hiding by threats, torture, and other high-handed methods. Also it is a well-known fact that vast sums have been smuggled across the border into the United States. It has been re- ported that Villa has sent into the United - AND MONOGRAPHS 6 MEXICO States several million pesos that he coined in Chihuahua. See No. 22, page 20. The first of these revolutionary issues, especially in the North, were struck with the intention of giving full weight and value. In the South, the coins were stamped with values much in excess of their bullion worth, but later were fol- lowed in some instances by a pure token coinage in copper with denominations of silver coins. The alloying of gold in the silver coins is interesting. When done intentionally the amount of gold was stated on the coin, as in the case of the Zapata and Oaxaca issues. The scope of this monograph is the metallic coinage of the period in question issued by the different revolutionary bands and it makes no pretensions of chronicling the coins issued in Mexico City that followed the regular standards ; nor is any attempt made to take up the many and various issues of paper and cardboard money that flooded the country. Although it has been the aim to chronicle all the varieties struck, the impossibility of NUMISMATIC NOTES i 9 i 3 - i 9 i 6 7 doing so is realized. Undoubtedly some pieces have escaped notice. The writer has heard rumors of other pieces but has been unable to get sufficient data about the issuers or descriptions of the pieces. There have been reports of square gold pieces circulating in certain of the moun- tain districts ; more definite reports come regarding crude pieces of silver bullion passing current along the Chihuahua and Sonora borders in the mining districts of the Sierra Madre. These are not coins and consequently are not included in the catalogue ; they are simply pieces of silver weighing one or two ounces, and passing for one and two pesos, respectively. One would naturally expect to find counterstamps as a result of the many changes, but to my knowledge there has been but one counterstamp and that on one of the revolutionary pieces. The probable reason for this absence of sur- charging was the scarcity of coins to re- validate, and the fact of no great amount of enemy issues getting into the posses- sion of the other side. AND MONOGRAPHS 8 MEXICO The opportunity is herewith taken to acknowledge my thanks to the following collectors for information and the loan of certain coins : Sig. Ignacio Fernandez Esperon of the Mexican Consulate, New York, for much valuable information concerning events in Mexico. Dr. Francis C. Nicholas for much useful information, and the gift to the Society of a number of these revolutionary coins. Rev. A. D. Chaurand for the history of the Oaxaca issues. Mr. George F. Brown for the loan of : coin No. 25. Mr. H. L. Hill for No. 41. Mr. John F. Le Blanc for Nos. 10, 27, 28, and 46. Dr. T. W. Voetter for No. 26. Mr. E. E. Wright for Nos. 12, 13, 14, 16, 21, 44, and 47. Mr. Farran Zerbe for Nos. 2, 42, and 43. All the other coins described are in the collection of The American Numismatic Society. NUMISMATIC NOTES i 9 i 3 - i 9 i 6 9 The first actual issue of coins made by the revolutionists was in the State of Sinaloa in June and July, 1913, from bullion taken from the El Rosario Mine, on the order of General Rafael Buelna 1 Peso. The regular Mexican eight reals or peso. With eagle on obverse and radiate liberty cap on reverse, as adopted in 1825 and issued almost con- stantly until 1910. Size 39 mm. Weight of specimen exam- ined, 32.72 gr. (505 grains). Silver. It is said that only 25,000 were cast, so poor were the results, as the casting was executed in coarse sand moulds. These pieces are very rare and probably very few specimens will find their way into the cabinets of collectors. It is said that they were all melted up in the space of a few days because it was found that a large percentage of gold was in the alloy, which had not been assayed before the pieces were made. Exaggerated tales are told of the amount of gold in these pieces, but these stories must be viewed, for the most part, with considerable scepticism. Sinaloa Issues AND MONOGRAPHS IO MEXICO The fact remains, however, that the gold in these pieces is far in excess of their face value. It will be noted that they weigh about a fifth more than the standard Mexican peso. 2 Peso. Same as No. i, but counter- stamped G.C. Size 39 mm. Weight 32.2 gr. (497 grains). Silver. Plate I. This counterstamp is said to be the mark of General Juan Carrasco, and is interesting because Carrasco shortly after issued dollars of his own, and probably at the same time stamped the few remaining Buelna dollars that had escaped the melt- ing pot. This G. C. stamp has been in- terpreted by some as the abbreviation of General Carrasco, but the more probable reading is Gobierno Constitucionalista (Constitutional Government) . Some time in the late autumn of 1913, General Juan Carrasco caused dollars to be cast at Culiacan in Sinaloa, using as a model the old liberty cap peso as in the previous instance. NUMISMATIC NOTES i 9 i 3 - i 9 1 6 11 3 Peso. Same as No. i, but showing the design more clearly. Size 39 mm. Weight of five specimens examined, 26.50, 27.26, 27.43, 29.31, 29.64 gr. (409, 421, 423.5, 452.5, and 457.5 grains). Silver. Plate II. These dollars, for the most part, show the design better than did the Buelna specimens, but the edges were left very rough and consequently had to be filed considerably. They can be distinguished more readily from the Buelna pieces by their weight. They are also rare because the bullion value in them was in excess of their face value, especially as the low valuation of the paper money made it profitable to melt them up. They assay about nine-tenths silver, one-tenth copper, and a small showing of gold. The next issue was a series of struck coins made at Parral in Chihuahua. It is said that the silver had been confiscated from near-by mines, and the rumor went around that they contained considerable gold. This, however, is probably not so. There are various conflicting accounts Parral Issues AND MONOGRAPHS 12 MEXICO about these coins. One statement is that General Maclovio Herrera gave the order to make this money, another account is that General Villa personally authorized it. Both versions may be correct. At any rate this issue is known as Villa’s first coinage, and it was probably first struck in October, 1913. Although it was thought that but few were struck, there is no doubt that a great many pieces were made — sufficient to meet the demand for these coins from collectors. This fact can be stated about these and subsequent coins of the revolutionists, namely, that more are undoubtedly seen in the United States than in Mexico, as the very large issue of paper and cardboard money very soon drove out the metallic money. For another coin issued by General Herrera see No. 29. The description of this issue is as fol- lows : 4 Peso. Obv. h 1 del | parral (Hi- dalgo del Parral), within a partial wreath and a half circle composed of annulets; at base, 1913. NUMISMATIC NOTES i 9 i 3 - i 9 i 6 13 Rev. i peso, within partial wreath and half circle of annulets. Edge reeded. Size 39 mm. Weights of pieces examined vary from 25.92 to 27.59 gr. (400 to 426 grains). Silver. Plate III. 5 50 Centavos. Obv. fuerzas cons- titucionalistas 1913 (Constitu- tionalist Forces). In centre, a crude representation of the radiate liberty cap, dotted border. Rev. 50 | centavos; above, a small radiate liberty cap on pole, at each side spray of leaves, dotted border. Edge reeded. Size 30 mm. Weights vary from 12.96 to 13.47 g r - ( 20 ° to 208 grains). Silver. Plate IV. Specimens have been noted with plain edge. The copper coinage consisted of a two- centavo piece. The trolley wire of the Parral-Santa Barbara Railway Company was used to make this coinage. 6 2 Centavos. Obv. 2