$20 notes of the Banco de Londres y México

The $20 note is particularly striking, having as its main vignette a portrait of the early humanitarian, Fray Bartolomé de las Casas^{Bartolomé de las Casas (c. 1484 – 1566) was a 16th-century Spanish historian, social reformer and Dominican friar. His extensive writings, the most famous being Brevísima relación de la destrucción de las Indias (A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies) and Historia de Las Indias, chronicled the first decades of colonization of the West Indies and focused particularly on the atrocities committed by the colonizers against the indigenous peoples.
In 1542 de las Casas was appointed Bishop of Chiapas, but served only for a short time before he was forced to return to Spain because of resistance by the operators of the feudal encomiendas to the reforming ‘New Laws’ that de las Casas had persuaded Charles V to enact, and because of conflicts with Spanish settlers over his pro-Indian policies and activist religious stances. The remainder of his life was spent at the Spanish court where he held great influence over Indies-related issues. Although he failed to save the indigenous peoples of the West Indies, de las Casas’ efforts resulted in several improvements in the legal status of the natives, and in an increased colonial focus on the ethics of colonialism.}. The image is taken from an equally impressive painting by the Mexican Félix Parra, which now hangs in the National Art Museum in Mexico City (though nowadays it would probably be considered too kitsch).

stamped 'DURANGO'

stamped 'GUADALAJARA'

stamped 'GUANAJUATO'

stamped 'LERDO'

stamped 'MAZATLAN'

stamped 'PUEBLA'

overprinted 'San Luis Potosi'

For counterfeit $20 notes produced during the Revolution see Counterfeit $20 Banco de Londres y México notes.