Counterfeit Mexico $100 notes

Counterfeit Mexico $100 notes –type 1

This is the first falsification listed in the notice of September 1915. Printed on good quality paper very similar to the genuine notes, though a little thinner and yellow.  Carefully executed engraving and printing, so somewhat difficult for the inexperienced to recognize the counterfeit.

These were the notes handled by General Carlos Bringas.

GENUINE	COUNTERFEIT
printed from steel plate	lithographed
	differences in the small details of the longitudinal borders and corner symbols, which are imperceptible at first sight but readily detected if careful attention is given to them
	the length of the border, measured from corner to corner of the design, is one millimeter less
	“GOBIERNO PROVISIONAL DE MEXICO”, although well imitated, has discrepancies, the most notable being the ‘O’s which are wider and rounder at their extremities, besides other minor differences in the letters ‘E’, ‘L’, ‘V’, ‘R’.  In general all the edges of the letters of this title are thicker in the counterfeit notes.
	The background on which the title is printed, made by horizontal parallel fine lines, is less closed and finer, which makes it appear of a lighter shade than that of the genuine notes.
	The figure of Patria has a different face, and the creases of the draperies are not as well defined as in the genuine notes.
	In the central landscape the volcanoes show the tops well designed, each crater top forming a single point.  The foliage growing on the lake is coarse and more than foliage presents the appearance of a cluster of grapes.  The horizon does not show the same clouds, and finally the water of the lake is not finely engraved throughout, but has different shades under the cactus plant and the foliage.
	The ‘$’ entwined with the ‘100’ has more lines and the small figures inside the ‘100’ design are smaller and more strongly engraved
	The fine line decoration that surrounds the same design is clearly different, principally in the part where it ends and which generally touches the folio or number of the note.
	“SERIE F” is printed in a different position.
The Subsecretary’s title says “O.M.”	The Subsecretary’s title says “S. S.”
	Esquerro’s signature differs a great deal in the capitals ‘C’ and ‘E’, which are larger and rounder
“DECRETO DE 19 DE SEPTIEMBRE”	“DECRETO DE 10 DE SEPTIEMBRE”
	“México, September 28 de 1914” has been printed with used type, for which reason the sentence appears heavy and black.
	On the reverse the printing can readily be seen to come from lithographic work instead of directly from a steel plate engraving.
	The coin shows differences in the letters, which are one or two lines smaller.  The eagle is not of the same design, neither in the head nor at the ends of the wings, and the Liberty cap is of a different outline, showing a distinct inclination towards the left.
	The Secretaria de Hacienda seal instead of being a perfect oval is entirely round, and does not show the pronounced relief as in the genuine note

Counterfeit Mexico $100 notes –type 2

This is the second falsification listed in the notice of September 1915. This comes from the same source described above, but it can be seen that the counterfeiters tried to correct the deficiencies of the first forgery.  It has the same characteristics as type 1 except that it has “O. M.” and “19 DE SEPTIEMBRE”.