Guatemala 1925 quetzal
This specimen was lot 1069 in Goldberg sale 46 (Beverly Hills, May 2008), where it sold for $9,500. The catalog description[1] noted, "Guatemala. Quetzal, 1925. Decimal coinage. Contstitution surmounted by quetzal. Reverse: Quetzal atop inscribed short pillar. Lovely original example and thus very rare. NGC graded MS-63. This type proved very unpopular with the Guatemalan people. They disliked its large size. So of the original mintage of 10,000 more than 7,000 were recalled and melted. Those remaining are tough to find."
The quetzal was introduced as a currency reform in 1925 to replace the peso. This type was struck 1925 only, along with a 1/2 quetzal (KM 241), 1/4 quetzal (KM 240), 10 centavos (KM 239), 5 centavos (KM 238) and 1 centavo (KM 237). The quetzal and half quetzal were replaced by banknotes; the others were struck at their weight standards until 1964. The curious .720 silver alloy seems to have been inspired by the contemporary Mexican silver peso (KM 455, struck 1920-45). At 16.66 g, 0.720 fine, it matches the half quetzal exactly.
Recorded mintage: 10,000 with most melted as noted above.
Specification: 33.33 g, 0.720 fine silver, .771 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: Eliz-143, KM 242.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, and Larry Goldberg, Goldberg Sale 46: the Millenia Collection, Beverly Hills, CA: Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers, 2008.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Elizondo, Carlos A., Eight Reales and Pesos of the New World, San Antonio, TX: 1968.
- 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:
- 1923 peso
- 1925 centavo
- 1925 ¼ quetzal
- 1925 ½ quetzal
- 1929 10 centavos
- Coins and currency dated 1925
- other specimens in The Millenia Collection
- early quetzal Banknotes of the Banco Central de Guatemala
- return to coins of Guatemala.