Description:

Republic of Mexico Tries to Legitimize New Paper Currency By Printing 10-Peso Bill on Recycled 18th C. Papal Bull!

A very intriguing document testifying to the inherent difficulties in affecting change. The item illustrates how the brand new Republic of Mexico tried--and failed--to persuade its populace to use paper money instead of metal coin after a new form of government was established.

The piece is a double-sided printed document in Spanish from the Mexican Republic, ca. 1823. Expected paper flaws consistent with age including wrinkles and chipped edges. A closed tear/cut extends along one corner. Else near fine. 11.875" x 8.5." Email correspondence from Spink & Son Auction Company (London, England) will be available to the successful bidder.

The front of the document announces that this is a legitimate 10-peso note, number 11899, which has replaced the previous type of currency. Mexico's new national symbol, an eagle perched on a cactus, can be seen at center. On the reverse of the 10-peso note can be seen the old text, graphics, and facsimile signature of an eighteenth-century papal bull from the Spanish Empire. The papal bull was issued in 1784-1785 and concerned the granting of indulgences to Catholic clergy during Lent. In exchange for contributions of "essayed silver" on a sliding scale depending on their rank, patriarchs, primates, archbishops, bishops, lower prelates, and secular presbyteries were granted permission to eat eggs and milk products during Lent (with the notable exception of Holy Week.) The indulgences financed the Catholic Church's on-going crusade against the "infidels."

Why did Mexican republicans print their new currency on paper alluding to the Catholic-centric Spanish Empire that Mexico had just overthrown? Several theories have been proposed to explain this curiosity, including paper shortage.

The most convincing argument, however, was advanced by co-authors Lorena Gauthereau-Bryson, Cory Ledoux, and Ana Maria Seglie in their article "Print Culture in the Americas." They wrote: "The government took this measure because it thought that Mexican religiosity would encourage the public to use these bills." The authors noted however, the great irony of this policy decision: "The juxtaposition of these two texts, the ten-peso bill and the Catholic bull, presents us with an interesting piece of history that connects two different moments in Mexican history. The Catholic bull belongs to the time of Spanish colonization…while the ten-peso bill represents the new republican steps of an independent nation."

Paper currency was a foreign concept in the Americas, where its abundant access to natural resources like copper, silver, and gold had made species the norm. Paper bills from the short-lived Mexican Empire of Agustin de Iturbide had been previously rejected, and these creative 1823 paper bills/papal bulls would be as well. In fact, paper bills were not readily accepted as legal tender in Mexico until the 1860s!

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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