Welcome to this website, which is the result of over twenty years' research into the paper currency of the Mexican state of Chihuahua. A companion website is dedicated to the neighbouring state of Sonora.

The history of the paper currency of Chihuahua is a complex subject, covering a period of just under 100 years. It begins with the scrip issued by private companies in the second half of the 19th century , includes the various local banks of issue and the numerous issues of different revolutionary factions, and ends with the emergency notes issued to deal with a temporary shortage of low-denomination coins in 1935 and 1943.

Chihuahua is the largest state in Mexico and until the Revolution was the most prosperous with an economy based on its agricultural riches and mineral deposits. It is not surprising therefore that this is reflected in the paper currency issued in the state.

After the Revolution Mexico established a single bank of issue but local banks and chambers of commerce were on two occasions permitted to make short-term issues to counteract a temporary shortage of small change.

For the purposes of this website “paper currency of Chihuahua” has been defined rather loosely as including any item that is
(a) printed on paper or a similar medium;
( (b) negotiable, and usually payable to bearer;
( (c) for a particular discrete amount, and
( (d) proceeding from within the state of Chihuahua