Guatemala 1879 1/2 real

from the Mountain Groan Collection

The specimen shown is of a common type but seldom found so nice. The type was struck 1872-73, 1878-79 and 1893, along with a one real (KM 148) and two reales (KM 149). Guatemala was the last country in Latin America to abandon the real, in 1912, a reflection of the extreme conservatism of the peasant society.

Recorded mintage: unknown but common.

Specification: 1.5 g, 0.835 fine silver, .040 troy oz ASW. The original colonial half real was 1.69 g, 0.896 fine silver.

Catalog reference: KM 147a.1.

Source:

• 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.

Link to:

• 1878 ½ real
• 1879-D real
• 1879-D 2 reales
• 1879 4 reales
• 1879 peso
• 1880 ½ real
• 1888 ¼ real
• Coins and currency dated 1879
• return to coins of Guatemala