Mexican revolutionary coinage, 1913-1917: Based on the Bothamley collection

Paper money and coinage from the Mexican Revolution is prized by collectors because of its variety and rarity. Because of short money supply and a constantly changing government, the revolutionaries had difficulty paying their troops until the revolutionary leaders started printing and coining their own money. While some of the coinage and paper money were beautifully crafted, other currencies were created using rudimentary methods and any available material. Two of Villa's revolutionary generals, General Calixto Contreras Espinoza and his deputy, General Severino Ceniceros were instrumental in the production of the Muera Huerta 1914 silver pesos at Cuencamé, Durango. Unlike portrait coins which promote rulers and potentially revolutionaries, the Muera Huerta peso sent a message, Kill Huerta! President Victoriano Huerta was so enraged by the insolence of Villa, he commanded that any person found with a Muera Huerta peso be summarily executed.