Bank Note: Mexico, 5 Pesos

Depicted on the left hand side is the seated allegory of Agriculture. A bundle of wheat, a sickle, and a beehive are to her right. In her left hand, she holds a plow. She carries a caduceus on her right, a winged staff with two snakes twirled around it. This latter, as well as the previously mentioned tools, makes it plausible for the figure to be Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture. She frequently appears with the caduceus, despite the fact that it is an unusual adornment for the goddess. Ceres is the Roman counterpart of Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture. Ceres’ domain and mythology are heavily based on those of her Greek counterpart. The corona spicea, a crown or wreath made of corn or wheat ears, is her most distinctive attribute. Plausibly, Ceres’ appearance on the banknote is used to indicate the importance of agriculture in the country’s economy at the time.

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