Municipal issues

Because the Convention government lacked fractional paper currency municipalities and certain military commanders issued cartones for 5, 10, 20 and 50 centavos. However, the municipal issues, whilst helping with small transactions, were obligatory only in their locality, and so damaged unity, so in December 1915 the government ordered their withdrawal. The Executive Council of the Nation’s decree of 27 December fixed a period of three months within which these notes had to be withdrawn, after which they would lack any value. The ayuntamientos and military commanders had to notify the Ministry of Hacienda of the amount of their issues, so that it could work out the best way of recording them, so possibly, somewhere, a record still exists with the details of all these issues.

The decree excepted the cartones of the Estado de Morelos, which would continue to be of forced circulation, and authorised a new issue of copper coins for 5c, 10c and 20c and notes of 50c.

We know of such cartones from the capital, Cuernavaca, and from Cuautla, Jojutla, Jonacatepec and Puente de Yxtla.

Distrito de Cuernavaca

These cartones were only valid within the district of Cuernavaca and could be exchanged for notes in the Exchange Office in the Palacio de Cortés, the seat of government.

Distrito de Cuautla

Cuautla is on the eastern side of the state.

There were two series, only valid within the district of Cuautla. All had the printed signature of Everardo Espinosa, the Presidente Municipal. 

Everardo Espinosa was listed in 1903 as running a tienda mixta, “La Universal” but was not a wealthy man. Espinosa entered local politics and was elected to the Cuautla town council on 27 November 1910Semanario Oficial, 17 December 1910 and as presidente municipal for 1912, at the same time as newcomers were winning elections not only in Cuernavaca, but in Yautepec, Jonacatepec and many smaller towns. All the new Cuautla council members for 1912 were well received, since they were not “caciques nor científicos nor exploiters of the poor”Diario del Hogar, Año XXXI, Núm. 11,026, Tomo 48, Núm. 83, 11 December 1911 but as soon as he took office Espinosa was denounced by the previous presidente municipal, Teófanes Jiménez, to the governor Ambrosio Figueroa as a zapatista and had to fleeDiario del Hogar, 26 January 1912. By late 1912 he was in prison, as the victim of an unfortunate accident - he and others were accused of robbery, as it was claimed they bought objects that had been stolen when Cuaulta was sacked by rebels the previous yearEl Imparcial, 8 September 1912. He took advantage of his imprisonment to aid his companions in captivity, who were for the most part destitute and ignorant. He made himself liked and respected by helping his fellow inmates with money, giving them advice, and teaching them to read and write. One he taught was Eufemio Zapata, Emiliano’s older brother, who was in prision for a murder that he had committed. Espinosa was presidente municipal again in 1914 and 1915.

The first series was Serie A.

A second Serie B was in a smaller scale.

 Distrito de Juárez (Jojutla)

La Tesorería Municipal

A 2c note bear the name of the Presidente Municipal, F. M. Amador.

Distrito de Jonacatepec

Again these cartones were only valid within the district of issue.

These bear the name of G. Guadarrama.

Puente de Yxtla

This municipality issued a uniface 10c note for local use only. It was blue print on cream paper, 47 x 67 mm, with the name of the Regidor (town councillor) M. Alemán.

Withdrawal

As stated, on 27 December 1915 the Consejo Ejecutivo decided that, since these municipal issues, as divisive, were a danger to business, to individuals and to the armed forces, and that it needed a single coinage with a single guarantee, the ayuntamientos and military commanders were prohibited from issuing paper currency, and it authorised the Ministerio de Hacienda y Crédito Público to make an issue of 50c notes and 5c, 10c and 20c copper coins, to replace the local cartones. It fixed a period of three months, after which all the cartones would be invalid, with the exception of those issued by the Gobierno del Estado de Morelos, which would be of forced circulation throughout the state. Of these cartones the 20c denomination is a companion to the Cuernavaca cartón above (and has the same date).

whilst the $1 notes are known in three colours.

Again these could be exchanged for notes in the Exchange Office in the Palacio de Cortés, the seat of government.