Mexico 1868 Hidalgo : 02a 6 cents

The varieties on the dotted 6 cents :

basic 6 cents (with dot)

Variety 6 I
The first variety has two specific characteristics.

1st oddity : there is a thinckening above the 6, in the bottom line of the circle.

var 6 I a

2nd oddity : there's a dot below the ornament in the left bottom corner.

var 6 I b

Variety 6 II

A second subtype, also has 2 chararcteristics:

1st oddity : the X in Mexico looks deformed

var 6 II a

2nd oddity : there is an additional 'dot' in front of the 6

var 6 II b

Variety 6 III

info on subtype III is still missing

Variety 6 IV

Subtype IV, can be identified by two characteristics too:

There is a thick line in the M of Mexico. The stroke gowing downwards from left to right, is thicker than the other strokes.

var 6 IV a

Secondly, the outher circle is thickened towards the left frame of the stamp, above the left corner ornament.

var 6 IV b

Variety 6 V

info on subtype V is still missing

Overview variety I to V

Variety I (yellow), variety II (blue) and variety IV (green) on the dotted 6 cent Hidalgo 1868.
more to follow ...

Mexico 1868 Hidalgo : 01c Introduction

The first issue of the Hidalgo stamps were only produced between September and December 1868.
The second issue, the 'ones with the dot', have been issued and used between 1868 and 1872.

In my previous post, I posted a grid of various Hidalgo stamps, to show the variety of district numbers.
If you payed attention, you'll see that the first stamp (District 1: MEXICO) has a two-digit number, where districts 2 - 9 only have one number.
There's little info on this two-digit number, and also a single-digit District 1 exits:

District 01 and District 1

The only info I found is, that this is a trial printing for the district/year numbers, usually found on thin figures stamps. You can find them with all kind of numbers, sometimes even several (different) per stamp.
The few 01 stamps I have, are all of type A (thin numbers) and also all with a pen cancel.

As said before, there are 6 stamps in the series without a dot, and 5 in the series with a dot.
Having one of each is a nice start.

If you look for one stamp of each district, you'll have to multiply each of the 11 stamps by 41 ...
makes 451 stamps.
Type A (without a dot) comes with the year 68 or 69, type B comes with the years 68, 69, 70, 71 or 72...
So needles to say, you can easily collect up to 3157 different stamps from this Hidalgo 1868 stamp.
Or 287 varieties for each individual stamp.

The reason for this series of articles here, however, is not to find the 'obvious' ones, but the special ones.
Therefore, I'll post in the next days, some of the varieties found on the type B (dotted number).

Although I will try to be as complete as possible, I don't have stamps (yet) of all sub types of this second issue.
For each stamp (6, 12, 25, 50 and 100 cent), there are - as far as I know - 10 sub types detected from the original mold.
Some sub types can easily be described, but let's not forget that each stamp in this issue has been overprinted with a year, a district number and a district name. And knowing that most of these stamps were used, also a regular cancel (or a forged one) is on top of the stamp as well.

Not an easy job to find the sub types, but if you plan to 'level up' your Hidalgo collection, stay tuned..

Mexico 1868 Hidalgo : 01b Introduction

Before I go deeper into the various subtypes of the Hidalgo stamps, I will tell more about the two types that are mentionned in the German 'Michel' catalogue.

type A
- the value is a small, thin number (see circle)
- there's no dot behind the number (see circle)
- the overprint of the year  is 68 or 69 (1)
- there's also a district number (2)

later on, an additional district name is added (3)
- these stamps are rouletted in stead of unperforated

type B
- the value is a large, broad (see circle)
- there's a dot behind the number (see circle)
- the overprint of the year can be 68, 69, 70, 71 or 72 (1)
- there's also a district number (2)

later on, also district names are added (3)

On this B-type, overprints with "anotado"  exists too.

There are 41 districts, each number corresponds with one district.

1	Mexico City	22	Durango
2	Veracruz	23	Oaxaca
3	Guadalajara (to 1869)	24	Cuernavaca
4	Puebla	25	Acapulco
5	San Luis Potosi	26	Campeche
6	Guanajuato	27	La Paz
7	Monterrey	28	Chiapas
8	Mazatlan	29	Victoria
9	Matamoros	30	Saltillo
10	Morelia	31	Ures
11	Colima	32	Tixtla Guerrero
12	Queretaro	33	Huejutla
13	Zacatecas	34	Maravatio
14	Jalapa	35	Tula
15	Tulancingo	36	Aguascalientes
16	Toluca	37	Lagos
17	Pachuca	38	Tabasco
18	Orizava	39	Tampico
19	Merida	40	Tlaxcala
20	Cordova	41	Tacubaya (no stamp usage with "41" on record.)
21	Chihuahua	41	Guadalajara (1869 and after)

various Hidalgo-stamps nr 1 to 41

In 1869, a large amount of "Guadalajara 3" stamps were stolen.
Therefore, the unused nr 41 was given to Guadalajara.
The original 41 of Tacubaya (unused so far) got stamps with "1" as they became a subdistrict of Mexico City.

There are of course more 'cities' in Mexico. They resort under one of the districts.
For an already extended collection, one district per stamp type will result in hundreds of stamps.
Additionally one can look for cancels of various cities as well, but that's a study on its own.

more to follow...

Mexico 1868 Hidalgo : 01a Introduction

One of the most fascinating stamps of Mexico, is the 1868 Hidalgo issue.

The German "Michel" catalogue, roughly indicates 2 issues, one of 6 stamps and one of 5 stamps.
The stamps come with two overprints (year and districs number), and later also with a third overprint (districs name).
The second issue has on top of the 2 (and 3) overprints, an additional overprint in 1872 "anotado".

So far the basic information...

In order to be as complete as possible, I will explain in steps type by type with clear examples.
But a good base to start, is to separate the genuine stamps from the forged ones.
Therefore, a comprehensive overview of the most common forgeries of this series.

Let's start with the stamp itself:

prototype of the 1868 Hidalgo stamp

Two easy ways to find forgeries among the Hidalgo stamps, is to look at the name "MEXICO" and the outline of the head of Hidalgo.

Left is a genuine stamp, right is a forgery.
The "I" in "MEXICO" is  broad in the real stamp, thin in the forgery.
The outline of the head is there, but not pronounced in the real stamp, one clear line in the forgery.

More difficult to see is that in the real stamp, the head touches the 3rd line form the top, in the forgery, the head touches the second line.
This is often harder to see, due to cancels (intentionally) placed on the top of the stamp.

Another -easy- forgery is to look at the eyes of Hidalgo.

left orginal stamp - right a forged one

On the genuine stamp,  Hidalgo looks you straight into the face. In the forgery, you can see the crossed-eyes looking Hidalgo.

forged 50. cent

forged 100 cent

 Finally, if the stamp is smaller then it should be, you're also looking at a forgery.

forgery - smaller stamp image

Of course there are more difficult forgeries as well.

Most forgeries however, occur in the overprints, the year, the districts number, the districts name or the 'anotado' overprint.
In my contribution here, I'll stick to the most obvious forgeries, and to the different subtypes within the original stamps.

pictures source : http://stampforgeries.com/forged-stamps-of-mexico-1866-1872/

Currency Today : Venezuela 09

The second series of the Boliváres Fuertes notes, was concluded in December 2017, with a 100 mil (100,000) note.
The note has the same design as the highest note of the first set of notes (2007-2013), but now in new colours.

100 boliváres (2007)

Although the previous set was taken out of circulation already, you would have needed 1000 of the 100-note, to reach the same amount as this note.

100 mil or 100,000 boliváres fuertes

The 100mil boliváres fuertes note, only has 13 December 2017 on the note itself, but there are (at least) 3 different types.

100,000 Boliváres fuertes - 3 types

The types are easy to recognise, as the letter in front of the serial number, also indicates the type.

detail of 3 different types

Type 1 (serial A)

1: serial A8
2: date and signature like the others
3: golden 100 (colour shifts when tilt)
4: security tread with small letters BCV

Type 2 (serial B)

1: serial B8
2: date and signature like the others
3: golden 100 (colour shifts when tilt) - like type 1
4: security tread with large letters BCV

Type 3 (serial C)

1: serial C8
2: date and signature like the others
3: red-brown 100 (no colour shift)
4: security tread with large letters BCV (like type 2)

The reverse side of the notes is identical, and was also used for the old 100 boliváres note.

reverse side of the 100,000 note

With the 100,000 boliváres note, the bolivás fuertes series ends.
In January 2018, all notes were replaced for the new currency "boliváres soberanos", but more over this in future posts.

Finally, an overview of all boliváres fuertes notes (2007-2017):

boliváres fuertes - all issued notes

Currency Today : Venezuela 08a

The last notes of the 2016-2017 series, were issued in December 2017.
In the previous post, I spoke about the 5000 Boliváres fuertes note.
This note was reissued in December, but with some changes, similar to the 20,000 Boliváres note I presented earlier (https://rainbowstampsandcoins.blogspot.com/2019/03/currency-today-venezuela-05.html).

5000 boliváres fuertes (Dec. 17 and March 17)

On the right, we see the March 2017 version, on the left the December 2017 version.

Version March 2017 :

1. metallic ink to indicate the value (colour shift when tilt)

2. date of issue March 2017

3. signature H

4. broad security tread 'BCV 5000'

5. darker flower ornament

Version December 2017 :

1. one colour for the value (no colour shift)

2. date of issue December 2017

3. signature G

4. small security tread 'BVC'

5. pale flower ornament

The 10,000 boliváres note is new to this set.

The design was previously used for the 50 Boliváres fuertes note (2007-2013),
but now, the face value is 200 times higher.

50 boliváres fuertes

10,000 boliváres fuertes

The reverse side, depics the 'Oso Frontino', the spectacled bear. Although this animal is not endangered, it's considered as vulnerable. It is also the only bear that has its origin in South America.
Its habitat is on the west side of South America, from the north of Colombia and parts of west Venezuela, downwards over Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

10,000 boliváres fuertes - reverse side

50 boliváres fuertes - reverse side

to be continued ...

Currency Today : Venezuela 07

In March 2017,  a number of new notes are added to the second series of Boliváres Fuertes.

A 500, 1000 and a 5000-note are added to the set.
Meanwhile, a new signature combination is added (signature H)

500, 1000 and 5000 boliváres fuertes

The new notes' design was used already in the first series (2007-2013), but then with more vibrant colours. And due to inflation, the value of the new notes are 200 to 250 times higher than the previous issues.

2, 5 and 20 (old) boliváres fuertes (2007-13)

At the reverse side, three different - local - animals are depicted :

reverse side of 500, 1000 and 5000 boliváres fuertes

On the 500 note, we see 'toninas'. It is a type of freshwater dolphin, indigenous to the Amazon and Orinoco rivers in the American continent, where it occupies the first place among the largest dolphins that inhabit these rivers, it is also known by the names of dolphins pink or bufeo, being its scientific name "Inia geoffrensis". The toninas base their feeding on fish of different types, their average life time is between 30 and 40 years, the presence of these animals in an ecosystem is synonymous with the healthiness of said area since they usually live in clean waters, these dolphins are currently in danger of extinction, so their conservation has become very important.

Toninas

On the 1000 note, two 'cuspones' or armadillos are depicted. The animal is also on the edge of extinction in Venezuela, and can be found in the wild, in the southern part of the country, near the Brazilian rainforrest, and in the south west, near the border with Colombia.

Armadillos or 'cuspones'

Finally the 5000 note, depics another critically endangered animal, the Hawksbill Sea Turtle.

This animal normally lives in the waters around the equator world wide.

endangered Sea Turtles

Similar to the 2007-2013 set, the reverse side of the shown notes, was used previously.

reverse side of  2, 5 and 20 (old) boliváres fuertes

Despite the low value of all of these notes, the design is really beautiful and the notes are worth collecting. The low value made the original notes so useless, that many were destroyed or used to make souvenirs for the few tourists.

A pity in my opinion, but understandable.

money to make 'art'

more to follow ...

Currency Today : Venezuela 06a

On the same date as the 20,000 Boliváres Fuertes note appeared, a 2,000 Boliváres Fuertes notes is issued, but with a different signature. A signature (G) that will reappear on the notes of December 2017.

2000 boliváres fuertes

On the reverse side we see the (American) Harpy Eagle, which can be found from the south of Mexico, till the outer borders of Brazil.

Harpy Eagle - source Wikipedia

Behind the eagle, we see the Falls of Ucaima y Tepuyes Venado y Kurún, in the national park of Canaima (est. Bolivar)

national park of Canaima

The notes' design was taken from the 10 Boliváres Fuertes note, that was issued in the first set of notes (2007-2013).

10 boliváres fuertes

By the time, the 2,000 note was put into circulation, the 10 note was already taken out of circulation.

to be continued ...

Currency Today : Venezuela 05a

In the second series of the current notes (the ones that are out of circulation by now as well), we continue the set from 2 Boliváres Fuertes to 100 Boliváres Fuertes.

As there was a high need on higher denomitations (in 2016 a hamburger costed about 1000 BVF) but the highest note was only 100 BSF.

A new set of 7 notes replaced the old set, starting with 500 BVF till 100,000 BVF (!), in two years (2016 - 2017).
There are 3 variations on signatures - so far I found - in this set.
The first one, is the signature we find back on the previous set too :

Signature F

Signature G

Signature H

the other two are new combinations.

There are also three dates mentionned when the notes were issued : August 2016 (sign F), August 2016 (signature H), March 2017 (signature G) and December 2017 (signature H).

Some of the notes however have small differences the second time they appear.

In August 2016, a 20,000 Boliváres Fuertes notes is issued (sign. F), the 'same' note was also issued in December 2017 (sign H)

2 different versions of the 20,000 Boliváres Fuertes notes

On the right we see the firstly issued note, on the left the later version.

Version 2016 : 

1. metallic ink to indicate the value (colour shift when tilt)

2. date of issue August 2016

3. signature F

4. broad security tread 'BCV 20000'

5. dark flower ornament

Version 2017 :

1. one colour for the value (no colour shift)

2. date of issue December 2017

3. signature H

4. small security tread 'BVC'

5. white flower ornament

more to follow ...

Currency Today : Venezuela 04

The current type of banknotes, are following each other in such a high speed, that by the time the article is online, the notes might have been replaced once more.

In my previous articles, I described the first set of notes (2 to 100 Boliváres Fuertes), issued between March 2007 and November 2015.

The notes were issued on 11 different dates, and have 6 different signature combinations.
More detailed info can be found in the previous articles.
https://rainbowstampsandcoins.blogspot.com/search/label/Venezuela

Beginners can start with collecting 6 notes (2 tot 100 Boliváres Fuertes).
More advanced collectors, might be helped with the following model I made :

chart Boliváres Fuertes (2007-2015)

On top you'll find the 11 dates of issue, that can be found on the notes.
In red (serial letters that exist for the particular date - but not in my collection), in black: serial letters that I have in my collection so far.

Yellow fields, mean the note exists, green fields are notes I have.
One orange field, means, the note probably exists too.

Not mentionned are the 'replacement notes' with serial letter Z - they may appear in each subtype.

Replacement note 2 boliváres 05/07 with serial Z

updates and missing notes are welcome,

more to follow