The crisis of 1943

In 1943, during the Second World War, Mexico was again faced with an acute shortage of fractional coinage, especially the 50c denomination. To relieve this situation the government authorised the banks and local Chambers of Commerce to issue cheques with the printed denominations of twenty-five and fifty centavos.

Durango

Cámara Nacional de Comercio de Durango

We know of two values, 25 centavos and 50 centavos notes issued by the Cámara Nacional de Comercio and dated 22 September 1943. There were at least two printings, the first with a stronger background of an image of the bank(?) and dots with no printer's imprint, and a second with a lighter background and the imprint 'TIP. "EL AGUILA DE ORO" DGO', though both were ready by 22 September. The notes had two signatures on the face and the stamps of the issuing business(es) on the back.

The signatures include those of Carlos Rivas Olasco, [                                         ]^{[identification needed]}, [                                         ]^{[identification needed]}, [                                         ]^{[identification needed]}, and [                                         ]^{[identification needed]},

Carlos Rivas Olasco was Interventor de la Renta de Administración y Vigilancia de la Propiedad Extranjera (Auditor of the Income Tax Administration and Surveillance of Foreign Property) in 1943.

The businesses, many based on the main shopping street of 5 de Febrero, included
(a) "La Conquistadora", a store selling hardware, fur, haberdashery and glassware (ferretería, peletería, mercería y cristalería), located at 5 de Febrero 214 Pte., and owned by Jesús H. Martínez;
(b) Angel Dorador;
(c) Anacleto García y Cía., ran "El Gran No.11", at calles 5 de Febrero and Madero. García was Spanish vice-consul in Durango in 1936.
(d) "La Moderna", a department store selling men’s and women’s clothing and bonnets, situated at calle 5 de Febrero 303 Pte and owned by E. Karam y Cia. Edmundo Karam was born in Beit ed-Dine, Lebanon,but had taken Mexican nationality.
(e) Jesús Nuñez. calle 20 de Noviembre 500 Pte;
(f) Peters y Cía.. The Peters family founded "La Suiza", selling ironmongery, haberdashery and hardware (ferretería, mercería y tlapalería) in 1879. It was situated at the corner of cale 5 de Febrero and calle Victoria.