Estado de Sonora $1 notes

(This section is the result of research by Robert Perigoe. This information originally appeared in the December 2011 issue of the Journal of the U. S. Mexican Numismatic Association.)

A total of 20,000 notes were produced in each series. Since each sheet had three printing positions, it meant that the final run would have ended with serial number 20100. Consequently, the first 66 runs utilized all three positions, while the final run utilized only the top two positions.

As it happens, it is relatively easy to identify the three printing positions for all four series by examining the back of the notes, which were the same throughout. On position 1 (top row), there is a flaw: the upper right serif of the ‘N’ in ‘SONORA’ is broken at the right.

On position 3 (bottom row) there are breaks in the wavy border above ‘S’ and 'TA' of ‘ESTADO’. On position 2 (middle row), neither of the flaws found on position 1 or on position 3 is present.

First Series

The first setting was used for 66 runs of 100 sheets of three positions each for a total of 19,800 notes.

Position 1 (top row): The face displays mountain seal type 3, large eagle seal (normal ‘C’), thin block ‘No.’, and serial numbering pattern 1-100, 301-400 …19501-19600.
Position 2 (middle row): mountain seal type 4, large eagle seal (broken ‘C’), thick block ‘No.’, and serial numbering pattern 101-200, 401-500 …19601-19700.
Position 3 (bottom row): mountain seal type 5, small eagle seal (with spot), thin fancy ‘No.’, and serial numbering pattern 201-300, 501-600 …19701-19800.

The second setting was used for one run of 100 sheets of two positions for a total of 200 notes. Position 1 (top row) and position 2 (middle row) have identical characteristics to those found in the first setting, except the serial numbering patterns are 19801-19900 and 19901-20000 respectively. Position 3 was not used, or the notes were destroyed as they would have exceeded the authorized total of 20,000 notes.

Second Series

The first setting was used for 66 runs of 100 sheets of three positions each for a total of 19,800 notes.

Position 1 (top row): mountain seal type 5, large eagle seal (normal ‘C’), thick block ‘No.’, and serial numbering pattern 1-100, 301-400 …19501-19600.
Position 2 (middle row): mountain seal type 3, large eagle seal (broken ‘C’), thin fancy ‘No.’, and serial numbering pattern 101-200, 401-500 …19601-19700.
Position 3 (bottom row): mountain seal type 4, small eagle seal (with spot), thin block ‘No.’, and serial numbering pattern 201-300, 501-600 …19701-19800.

The second setting was used for one run of 100 sheets of two positions for a total of 200 notes. Again, position 1 (top row) and position 2 (middle row) have identical characteristics to those found in the first setting, except the serial numbering patterns are 19801-19900 and 19901-20000 respectively. Position 3 was not used, or the notes were destroyed as they would have exceeded the authorized total of 20,000 notes.

Third Series

The first setting was used for 66 runs of 100 sheets of three positions each for a total of 19,800 notes.

Position 1 (top row): mountain seal type 2, large eagle seal (broken ‘C’), thin fancy ‘No.’, and serial numbering pattern 1-100, 301-400 …19501-19600.
Position 2 (middle row): mountain seal type 4, large eagle seal (normal ‘C’), thin block ‘No.’, and serial numbering pattern 101-200, 401-500 …19601-19700.
Position 3 (bottom row): mountain seal type 1, small eagle seal (with spot), thick block ‘No.’, and serial numbering pattern 201-300, 501-600 …19701-19800.

The second setting was used for one run of 100 sheets of two positions for a total of 200 notes. Again, position 1 (top row) and position 2 (middle row) have identical characteristics to those found in the first setting, except the serial numbering patterns are 19801-19900 and 19901-20000 respectively. Position 3 was not used, or the notes were destroyed as they would have exceeded the authorized total of 20,000 notes.

Fourth Series

The settings have the same characteristics as Series Three and presumably were printed at the same time.