Guatemala (1840) c/s 8 reales KM-120.5

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Jean Elsen sale 164, lot 1939
JE164-1939r.jpg

This specimen was lot 1939 in Jean Elsen sale 164 (Brussels, March 2026), where it sold for €600 (about US$835 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"GUATEMALA, République (1839-), AR 8 reales, s.d. (1840). Contremarques de type III, sur 8 reales du Nord-Pérou, 1836 TM, Lima. D/ Contremarque: soleil levant sur trois montagnes. R/ Contremarque: soleil dans une étoile. Rare. Belle patine. Très Beau. (republic of Guatemala, since 1839, undated silver eight reales, a type III countermark (circa 1840) on an eight reales of Norht Peru of 1836, Lima mint. Obverse countermark: sun rising over three mountains; reverse countermark: sun in a star. Rare, nice patina, Very Fine.)"

This countermark is a 'Type III', meaning that the obverse stamp (three volcanos) and reverse stamp (five-pointed sun) were punched into the host separately, thus did not overlap. This particular method was used only in 1840. 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. The host is a North Peru 1836 8 reales, assayers TM.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: host coin: 27.07 g, 0.903 fine silver.

Catalog reference: KM 120.5.

Source:

  • Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
  • 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]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 164: Monnaies du duché de Brabant et du royaume de Belgique, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2026.

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