Fractional notes of the Estado de Sonora issue

(This section is the result of research by Robert Perigoe. The information originally appeared in the March 2018 issue of the Journal of the U. S. Mexican Numismatic Association).

The Estado de Sonora series included four different low denominations: 5c, 10c, 25c and 50c. These were printed on letter size paper, using four print positions. Watermarks show that the 25 and 50 centavos notes were oriented vertically on the sheet (as were the peso notes), and that the 5 and 10 centavos notes were printed horizontally on each sheet, so that a single sheet of paper could accommodate eight notes. As was the case with each peso series, for each print position, one of five different state seals was printed in the same color as the serial number, and if the seal can be identified, the print position can be determined.

Generally, the numbering system can also provide another method of determining the position, although the systems sometimes shift. If the peso print runs are any indication, the top position normally has the lowest quarter of the serial numbers, followed sequentially by the upper middle, lower middle, and bottom positions.

Typically, a straight-forward method of identifying the print positions utilizes the distinctions in the large eagle seals on notes large enough to accommodate them. This is not the case with either low value centavos notes. That pretty much leaves the colored state seals or underlying printing quirks in the background design as the last remaining option for determining position.

The five colored seals are referred to as 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and the four printing type varieties (or print positions) as A (top ), B (upper middle), C (lower middle), and D (bottom).