Guatemala 1863-R 4 reales

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This is the second silver four reales struck in Guatemala since the issue of colonial four reales ceased in 1821. Guatemala retained the real as a division of the peso until 1912, long after her neighbors had converted to decimal coinage. Indeed, attempts by the government in the 1870's to issue decimal coins (such as the fifty centavos of 1870) were failures. The portrait is of Rafael Carrera, cattle rustler, bandit, guerrilla leader and finally President of the Republic. The coin is common is circulated condition. Four reales dated 1860-65 exist with el Presidente's portrait, including a gold coin.

Recorded mintage: unknown but common.

Specification: 12.5 g, 0.903 fine silver, .362 troy oz ASW.

Catalog reference: KM 140.

Source:

• 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.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.

Link to:

• 1861 silver four reales
• 1861 gold 4 reales
• 1863 ¼ real
• 1863 real
• 1863 peso
• 1863 16 pesos
• 1864 gold 4 reales
• 1865 4 reales
• Coins and currency dated 1863
• return to coins of Guatemala