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”Blackbirds tend to like shiny things.” ~ The Bloody Raven
The Mexico New Peso
I thought it odd for silver coins to be circulated in public business in 1993 to 1995 in Mexico. But the crux is that country had endured high rate inflation throughout the 1980s, defaulting on debt and ended up with the Peso ’fiat currency’ too devalued to be useful anymore.
In 1993 President Carlos Salinas introduced the New Peso and a plan to remove the old currency over three years. In 1996 the mint removed the word “New” from New Peso along with the silver replaced by steel. A temporary measure. But I can see allot of those silver coins go into hiding before they are withdrawn.
The question is: Did the use of silver in the New Peso a significant factor in making the successful transition and adoption of the new currency? Retired successful Businessman and proponent of a sound financial policy for Mexico Hugo Salinas Price thinks so and believes Mexico should continue that policy to benefit all Mexicans.
Now to the Silver coins
Mexico 10 New Peso
Sister Teresa D'Mordecai Part 6: On Death Ground
“Santa Maria, it’s a trap,” Exclaimed Lieutenant Guerrero as he scampers back.
“We have been betrayed!” José climbs onto a wagon drawing his pistol and sword, “We’re out numbered, and we must stand and fight until the army comes to our aid!” General Morelos orders, “Defensive circle in between the wagons!”
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Rather than dwell on the betrayer José immediately directs two of the wagons into a makeshift barricade across the narrow Cemetery road. The third wagon set as the second line of defense twenty paces back. Guerrero organizes his regulars into an impromptu firing line behind the barricade.
The moon finally crept out from behind the night clouds revealing the Royalist forces assembling more than seventy-five paces near the crest of a gentle rise on the main cemetery access roads. On the left fork the infantry stopped, forming a line of three ranks across that road and readied their bayonets. On the right road a squad of Cavalry lined four abreast in three ranks as much as the space on the road would allow. Both roads converge at sixty paces uphill from the barricade.
The officer rode a few paces forward. His raspy voice subdued but firm, “In the name of King Ferdinand surrender yourselves and the treasure and you will be spared, or choose to die like treasonous dogs!"
Mexico 1994 10 New Peso
Morelos leaned over to Lieutenant Guerrero, "Your assessment my friend."
Guerrero's stern expression, "From what we can see we're out numbered; about 40 infantry and 18 Cavalry to our fifteen including our Sister here. And they have the high ground too. Not good, we cannot stand long enough for help to get here."
Morelos clutched his silver cross with a whispered prayer and patted his Lieutenant on the shoulder, “Vincent, be strong before the men.”
“Yes sir.”
José shifted to Teresa, even in this dire situation his face seem to light up when he gazed into her face as if he’d be satisfied if he died tonight, "They knew, what will Sun Tzu do here Sister?"
Teresa knew he depended somewhat on her advice, his eyes were trusting and even leaders of Revolutions we’re mere humans too despite their strong will and command persona, her eyes narrowed and her voice fixed into a blunt tone, "Sun Tzu calls this ‘Death Ground’, a situation when faced with severe unfavorable odds but men will fight much better understanding what is at stake, we already fight for each other, our neighbours and friends. Much will depend on your leadership….and what does our enemy really fight for?”
Mexico 1993 20 New Peso
The Royalists were quiet, apparently settled upon melee tactics as not to alert the entire rebel army. The Officer draws his sword, "You now have 20 seconds!"
José remained focused on her words. But he could see that his men’s eyes were on him, even now Guerrero himself never showed fear ever since he joined but this was the first time they were at a distinct disadvantage. Guerrero surmised, "They are after the gold and silver!"
José replied, “And they are after you and me too my friend, the timing is too perfect for them. Should they capture or kill us and take the wagons, it would end the dream of Independence, and the dream would die here.”
Judging from Morelos’ conviction they already knew his answer.
It was time that was needed after the first shots are fired in rebellion.
“I will fight too,” Teresa began to draw on her past as there were some tactics she employed as the south China seas Pirate, the Bloody Raven. She silently cursed herself for not having her blade with her, “Can anyone spare a sword?” The Nun’s request drew a few chuckles from the men as they understood the irony. “Oh, I can always borrow one from a Royalist. Trust me, I can stand my ground and I know a few tricks.”
With a reassuring smile, “Then I will get you a heathen sword my Teresa. Be at our side!”
He climbed back on top of the wagon to face their enemy, "In God's name we must have liberty!"
The officer lifted his sword to signal their charge, “This is your last chance General Morelos, 10 seconds!"
José replied out loud, "The same chance you gave General Hidalgo's wounded? No, I will answer for our brothers who were silenced by your bloody hands!”
Morelos’ men reacted to his words in confidence and agreement, “Viva la revolution!” as they aimed their muskets.
Morelos swung his sword down, “Fuego!"
Mexico 1993 20 New Peso
At his Cavalry's camp Lieutenant Guadalupe's eyes widened, "Gun fire...and that's coming from the cemetery... God in heaven, the gold and silver shipment! Mount up gentlemen! "
With the element of surprise exhausted, The Royalists returned fire as Morelos' men took cover among the wagons. Three ranks of twelve muskets loosed the hail of bullets that whizzed past or shatter wood in all directions.
A patriot screamed as a round smashes his knee before collapsing to the ground. A draft horse was shot jerking the wagon forward in its instinct to flee before falling onto the ground among the gravestones in pain. A man became exposed; he yelped taking a round in the stomach and crumpled to the ground.
Argénta’s heart skips a beat as she hears the sound of battle resonating from the cemetery, "Trouble. Heya!" She urges her plough horse into a gallop.
"Avanti!" Cried the Royalist officer, his troops begin to move forward.
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"Here they come! Reload!” Jose realized that reloading in the darkness took too long. Before he could order the bayonets he sees Teresa scamper from his side. "Sister...what are you doing?"
Teresa grabs two of the large glass oil lanterns and bolted through the barricade. She ran headlong towards the royalist line and threw them onto the road shattering and spreading flames. The spreading fire spooked the horses preventing the Cavalry from charging.
The infantry were forced to egress off the roadway around the flames and in amongst the tangle of the obtrusive gravestones. The darkness made footing around the uneven graves uncertain for the infantry to negotiate.
She ran back while making a motion of the cross, grasping another pair of lamps and tossed them at the feet of the attacking infantry as they bunched up among the gravestones setting a number of screaming troops in flames.
The Patriots cheered as Teresa slipped safely back behind the barricade.
"Brilliant Sister! That will slow them,” Guerrero tipping his hat to Teresa.
“Well done Teresa!’ José exhorted.
"A tactic I learned aboard my old ship." Replied Teresa.
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Down to ten muskets the tactic bought Morelos' men another orderly chance to load and deliver a valuable last volley. Jose could feel the confidence in his men.
The masked officer seemed frustrated and urged his troops to wade through the flames as time was now against them. Rebel fire was only able to take down few attackers as they filtered back onto the road and assault the barricade.
Teresa again scanned around for a weapon. There was a shovel, and an open sack of silver bars.
José steers the bayonet aside and ran through the soldier attempting to climb over the wagon and fired his pistol into the face of the next soldier after him. Meanwhile the rebel regulars tried their best to fend off the attackers with bayonet as more and more attackers try to assault the barricade.
Guerrero parries with two soldier’s bayonets as the one on his left kept his sword at bay the other was about to run him through on his right. A shiny object struck the right soldier’s head, his eyes turn up and falls backwards.
“Got him!” Screeched Teresa as she reached into a sack for another bar and sought another target.
A Royalist had his hands around the throat of a Rebel and pinned to the ground. She heaved the bar knocking off his fancy colored hat that offered no protection against blunt force. He falls unconscious on top the rebel. “Yes!” And pumps her fist!
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Gold Bar, silver bar, Royalists fell but some became very distracted by the wealth landing at their feet. Teresa grabbed a handful of smaller bars and cast them into the surging throng of attacking soldiers pressing against the barricade. She stood up on the wagon and shouted as loud as she could, “Gold and silver for the taking!” She threw another two handfuls of bars into the mass, “A gift from King Ferdinand, free gold and silver!”
The surge abated as many of the attackers began crawling upon the ground to scoop up the irresistible wealth beneath their feet.
José laughed observing the result of her unorthodox tactics, “Now we know these loyalist curs fight only for money!” He slashes opened a sack at his feet and showered handfuls of gold bars upon their attackers. “Here! Take your money and be welcomed by Judas where he dwells!”
The masked officer was now livid ordering his reserve to charge forward and then commanded his cavalry to charge through the flames but the horses were uncontrollable and didn’t respond to the rider’s commands. “Blindfold the horses!”
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In the chaos a pair of soldiers jump onto the left wagon bench and grabbed the reigns, before driver they knew it there was the ringing of a striking shovel on his right. He sees his fellow soldier slump forward and fall off the wagon. The driver turns to see a nun with a shovel and that’s all he saw before everything went black.
Teresa reaches down to the hip of the soldier and liberates his arming sword, “I need to borrow this, Gracias!” The sword was of reasonable balance and felt a bit large for her grasp but it had to do. One foolish soldier charged at her. Her lightning reflexes side stepped his thrust and he felt the blade effortlessly glide across the side of his neck in that instant. His blood sprayed from the open gash of his neck.
The Sanguine spray lighted red droplets upon her face. Alarmed, Teresa fought the urge and desire to taste it and by long practiced instinct wiped it off with her habit sleeve. “No, I cannot give into the Blood Lust!” She won’t lose control and end up killing friend and foe alike.
She reached inside her habit for her old leather mask. Before she could don her mask another Royalist thrusts his bayonet at her midsection , she barely turns the weapon aside with a backhand sweep and instantly follows through with a horizontal slash taking his head clean off sending a fountain of blood spraying into the air. The corpse expectantly falls forward spraying blood over Teresa’s face.
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Time seemed to stand still. Her acute senses filled the battlefield of every object; men, horses, gravestones, even insects. Her hearing, night vision enhanced in magnitudes, strength came to her muscles, and then the ravenous hunger that hid in her soul was made manifest it’s bloody desire for more of the life fluids that could only satisfy this Centuries old beast. She felt the fangs in her mouth enlarge; her nails darken and thicken into claws.
In that instant her mind could sort out the screaming and chaos in good order.
A few Lancers managed to get past the flames and impaled one of Morelos’ personal Guards caught out on the fringe of the fighting.
Another patriot near the wagon was knocked down and took two bayonets in the belly.
The remaining Royalist cavalry charge towards the gap between the wagons.
The bands of Patriots are down to a handful of men.
Morelos and Guerrero were almost fighting back to back.
There was blood, precious delicious blood everywhere that she craved.
”And Sister Argénta is here?,” She thought.
Argénta steers her plow horse past the cemetery entrance. She could see a pitched battle taking place in the distance and it appears grim for General Morelos! ”Teresa better not be a Royalist spy or I may have to kill her!”
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I hope you enjoyed this coin feature, and thank you for stopping by my Blog for a little read.
Previous chapters of Sister Teresa D’Mordecai;
#fiestatuesday: 1933 Silver One Peso – Sister Teresa D’Mordecai, Part One
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The #fiestatuesday and #worldcoinwednesday tags are the brainchild of SSG Tag Master 
References
1. My own pictures shot with a Samsung SM-A530W
Other references
Mexico 1994 10 New Peso
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“Et lux in tenebris to serve laboro, sum sicarius” “I work in the shadows to serve the Light, I am an Assassin”