u/Late-Ad-4396

Officially entered the Gordita proof era 🇲🇽🪙

My first Gordita Libertad proof — 1993-Mo PCGS PR69DCAM.

There’s just something about the early thick Libertads that photos don’t fully capture. Different proportions, different feel, and a more classic presentation compared with later proofs.

And maybe it’s just me, but the edge lettering on these early Gorditas is a notch above many of the modern Libertads.

1993 proof mintage: 5,002.

Gorditas or modern proofs — which camp are you in?

Issued by Banco de Durango on March 1, 1914, this 20 Pesos note combines just about everything collectors love about classic Mexican paper money: intricate ABNCo engraving, a locomotive vignette, bold oversized denomination counters, and the famous standing allegorical figure at right.

The train scene on the front feels especially fitting given Durango’s mining and railroad history during the late Porfirian / Revolutionary era. Notes from the northern Mexican banks have developed a pretty serious collector following over the last few years, and Durango issues always seem to get attention when nice examples surface.

Printed by the American Bank Note Company in New York.

Banco de México released these commemorative notes in 2010 for the Bicentennial of Independence and the Centennial of the Revolution, and they immediately became collector favorites.

Series A through E were produced, but the early Series A notes, which are considered the 1st print run notes, are generally considered the most desirable of the run and typically less common. A lot of people in Mexico hoarded these instead of spending them, especially the 200 Pesos with the Angel of Independence design.

Shown here is the original presentation folder from Banco de México, which included both the 100 & 200 pesos notes with matching serial numbers, along with a 200 pesos note that has been graded PMG 66 EPQ.

What I also like about these is that they’re still within reach of everyday collectors. You don’t need to spend thousands to own a genuinely beautiful modern commemorative note with strong historical symbolism and an iconic design.

Honestly one of the coolest modern banknote issues out there — the Angel, the muted colors, the revolutionary imagery, and even the tiny hidden denomination text all work together incredibly well.

2023 5oz RP Libertad with a mintage of only 1,500 pieces. Not the lowest mintage out there, but still significantly smaller than most nationally issued coins. With demand increasing significantly over the past year in particular, these are becoming increasingly difficult to find, especially without significant numismatic premiums…

The amount of detail and contrast on these in person is honestly hard to capture in photos. I originally considered grading it, but spotted a couple tiny imperfections on the rim under magnification and decided against it. No regrets though — this thing is stunning raw!

Looks NT to me…? Also, couldn’t find much wear on it

Recently traveled to the Netherlands 🇳🇱 and one day went out diving with my buddy. We ended up drifting off course then I noticed something flashy sticking out of the sand which caught my eye, so I decided to investigate. Examined it closely at the surface and lo and behold, a treasure! After I got back home, I sent it into NGC along with some photos of me and my buddy at the dive site. Came back with this label 🪎 😂

Just picked up this incredible Banco de Coahuila 5 Pesos specimen note graded PMG 67 EPQ. Beautiful American Bank Note Company engraving throughout, with zero serials, punch cancels, bold red SPECIMEN overprint, and an amazing classical nude vignette on the reverse.

The detail and paper originality on this piece are unreal in hand. Large-format Mexican specimen notes from this era are already scarce, but finding one preserved at this level is on another tier entirely.

PMG population is just 2 in 67 EPQ with none finer, making this a true top-pop example. Definitely one of my favorite Mexican banknotes in the collection right now.

Just picked up what is widely considered Mexico’s first national paper money issue — an 1823 Empire of Iturbide 1 Peso, PMG 63 EPQ, Pick 1c.

A few reasons this note is historically important:

• Issued just after Mexican independence from Spain (1821) during the short-lived First Mexican Empire under Agustín de Iturbide
• Dated January 1, 1823 — only months before the empire collapsed
• Cataloged as Pick #1, making it the starting point for Mexican national paper money in most standard references
• Printed as an emergency government obligation rather than a modern central bank note

The text translates roughly to:

“The Mexican Empire promises to pay this amount of one peso…”

At the time, Mexico was struggling with severe fiscal problems after the war for independence. The government lacked sufficient silver coinage and attempted to circulate paper obligations backed by the state. Public distrust of paper money was extremely high in Mexico during this era, which is one reason these early issues had limited success and survival.

This example is also:
• Pen cancelled
• PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ
• Endorsed on the reverse in Oaxaca, dated May 16, 1825 — a fascinating post-imperial circulation endorsement after Iturbide had already fallen from power

What makes these especially interesting is how crude and transitional they are compared to later Banco de Londres y México or Banco Nacional notes. They still feel closer to colonial-era treasury paper than modern banknotes.

These rarely appear in high grade because:
• Most circulated heavily
• Many were redeemed/cancelled/destroyed
• The thin paper was fragile
• Mexico’s early political instability led to poor archival survival

Would love to see other early Mexican Empire or Republican provisional notes if anyone here collects this area.

Just picked up what is widely considered Mexico’s first national paper money issue — an 1823 Empire of Iturbide 1 Peso, PMG 63 EPQ, Pick 1c.

A few reasons this note is historically important:

• Issued just after Mexican independence from Spain (1821) during the short-lived First Mexican Empire under Agustín de Iturbide
• Dated January 1, 1823 — only months before the empire collapsed
• Cataloged as Pick #1, making it the starting point for Mexican national paper money in most standard references
• Printed as an emergency government obligation rather than a modern central bank note

The text translates roughly to:

“The Mexican Empire promises to pay this amount of one peso…”

At the time, Mexico was struggling with severe fiscal problems after the war for independence. The government lacked sufficient silver coinage and attempted to circulate paper obligations backed by the state. Public distrust of paper money was extremely high in Mexico during this era, which is one reason these early issues had limited success and survival.

This example is also:
• Pen cancelled
• PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ
• Endorsed on the reverse in Oaxaca, dated May 16, 1825 — a fascinating post-imperial circulation endorsement after Iturbide had already fallen from power

What makes these especially interesting is how crude and transitional they are compared to later Banco de Londres y México or Banco Nacional notes. They still feel closer to colonial-era treasury paper than modern banknotes.

These rarely appear in high grade because:
• Most circulated heavily
• Many were redeemed/cancelled/destroyed
• The thin paper was fragile
• Mexico’s early political instability led to poor archival survival

Would love to see other early Mexican Empire or Republican provisional notes if anyone here collects this area.

[effacé]

Exceptionally rare true ladder (ascending - 01234567). White whale of ladder serial numbers, and arguably among the top 3 most desirable S/N configurations, only behind 00000001 and 99999999.

While several other wraparound ascending and descending ladder configurations exist and are designated as such by some grading companies (e.g., 34567890, or 10987654), there are only 6 possible true ladders out of 99,999,999 notes, 3 ascending and 3 descending, or 0.00006% out of 10 million notes. Additionally, many districts print fewer than 10 million notes for a given run, in which case these districts would have fewer than 6 true ladders for an entire print run.

This note includes signatures of Rosa “Rosie" Gumataotao Rios (43rd Treasurer of the United States), and Tim Geithner (President of the Federal Reserve, 2003-2009). Geithner, who also served as the 75th Secretary of the Treasury, was a significant figure in modern finance as he played a pivotal role in helping the United States to navigate the 2008 housing market crash.