Counterfeit $50 notes

Counterfeit $50 notes –type 1

This is the first falsification listed in the notice of September 1915. This was made in a good print shop, probably in the United States, with competent employees and equipment so a good engraving, but with the following differing features.

GENUINE	COUNTERFEIT
	Patria has a different profile of the head and face: the small dots with which the face and dress have been imitated are entirely different
	The words “CONSTITUCION” and “MEXICO” printed on the shield are larger, as are “LA TESORERIA RECIBIRÁ Y PAGARÁ” etc. and the titles before the signatures.
	The large design that encloses the “50” is a pretty good imitation, but it has not been made according to the official geometric design, and in particular, the “$” sign is a great deal thicker and has less lines
	The top edge of the border, formed by a succession of undulating designs, does not exactly represent the contour of the three undulations.
	The sky on the vignette has a different shading in outline and coloring, as well as in the groups of clouds; the eagle has a rounder head, more like that of a parrot, and the cut of the wings is different; the groups of foliage that appear on the lake are different in appearance and size.
	The lettering “SERIE E” is different and printed in another place
light blue background printed from engraved plate	The light blue background is of a rougher design of undulated intercrossed lines, and is lithographed
Secretaria de Hacienda stamp is printed from a steel die and so raised	seal is printed with a plate made from a photo-engraving, and therefore shows no signs of being in relief.
On the reverse printed from an engraving	On the reverse the details of the complicated patterns are not clearly defined in all their lines, and are printed from a photo-engraving
	In the images of the coin, the visible part of the obverse only says “REPUBLICA MEXICANA,” and the letters are of a wider type; and instead of the eagle’s head with a snake and part of the wings at either side, only some lines like worms can be seen. The cap shows no sign of the word “LIBERTAD”. The rays radiating from the cap are wider and not as shaded.
	The paper, although similar to that used in the genuine notes, is not of the same quality

Counterfeit $50 notes –type 2

This is the second falsification listed in the notice of September 1915. This was exactly the same as the previous one and made by the same people, but with two corrections:

GENUINE	COUNTERFEIT
	The undulations on the top border
	The ‘$’ sign entwined in the ‘50’ is thinner, thereby more faithfully imitating the genuine notes

Counterfeit $50 notes –type 3

This is the third falsification listed in the notice of September 1915. This counterfeit comes from the same print shop that forged the $100 notes (types 1 and 2), as is evident from examining the likeness of the figure, letters, paper and print work.

This is probably the counterfeit $50 notes handled by General Carlos Bringas. If so, an outstanding characteristic will have been:

GENUINE	COUNTERFEIT
DECRETO DE 19 DE SEPTIEMBRE	DECRETO DE 10 DE SEPTIMBRE

Counterfeit $50 notes –type 4

This is the fourth falsification listed in the notice of September 1915. This is the coarsest counterfeit, done by means of a photo-engraving but so badly that it is apparent at first sight. The details of the designs are grotesque and imperfect, the lines do not extend as much as they should and the shading and background are not done well. Furthermore, the bad quality of the paper, the seal which is not raised, and the poor ink used make the counterfeit evident even to the most ignorant person.

Counterfeit $50 notes –type 5

This is the fifth falsification listed in the notice of September 1915. This has also been printed in Mexico from a photo-engraving, but is better executed, although the forgery can be detected at first sight by following the instructions above. The quality of the paper used is not as poor as the former one, but it is not of linen, and from the ink and impression it is obvious that it was produced in a workshop with little equipment.