Guatemala (1839) 2 reales KM-81
The first specimen was lot 21399 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $6,000. The catalog description[1] noted, "GUATEMALA. Guatemala - Bolivia. 2 Reales, ND (ca. 1839-40). PCGS VF-20. Countermark: EF Details. Issued by decree of 31 October to 20 November 1840. Countermark: Type II, radiant personification of the sun above mountains. Countermark applied to the obverse of a 1830-PTS JL Bolivia Republic 2 Soles (KM-95A). Though the host exhibits some moderate handling and some planchet streakiness due to overall metal quality, the countermark still quite strong and evocative, making this a solid representation of the type." The second specimen was lot 41064 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2026), where it sold for $18,000. The catalog description[2] noted,
"GUATEMALA. Guatemala - El Salvador - Bolivia. 2 Reales, ND (ca. 1839-40). PCGS FINE-12; Countermark. Issued by decree of 31 October to 20 November 1840. Countermark: Type II, radiant personification of the sun above mountains. Countermark applied to the obverse of a 1830-PTS JL Bolivia Republic 2 Soles (KM-95a) with previous El Salvador "Zig-Zag" scribe mark (KM-10) (Decree of 18 December 1834 until at least 1839). A rather intriguing 2 Reales featuring two distinct countermarks, both nicely detailed and impressive. The host shows considerable wear, but is yet wholesome."
This specimen is a two reales counterstamped in Guatemala in 1839-40. It is a 'Type II', meaning that only the obverse was stamped. This particular method was used only in 1839. Foreign crowns were counterstamped from 1839-1841, during a time at which the Central American Republic was in a state of collapse and the country of Guatemala was emerging as an independent entity. Neither the silver nor the minting capacity was available to locally produce large denomination silver coins until 1859.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: host coin: 6.2 g, 0.667 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-81; Jovel-Type V Fig. 6-1 (plate coin).
- Byrne, Ray, Coins and Tokens of the Caribees, Decatur, IL: Jess Peters, Inc., 1975.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Raymond, Wayte, The Coins of Central America, Silver and Copper, 1824-1940, New York: Wayte Raymond Inc., 1941.
- Robinson, Charles, The Coins of Central America, 1733-1965, San Benito, TX: 1965.
- Stickney, Brian, A Monetary History of Central America, New York: American Numismatic Society, 2017.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The January 2023 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Taraszka Collection and the Mark and Dottie Salton Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, January 2026 NYINC Showcase Auction, Ancient and World Coins, featuring the Kazmier Wysocki Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
Link to:
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