Guatemala 1981 centavo
In 1925, the currency was reformed and the peso was dropped in favor of the quetzal (1 quetzal = US$1 = 60 pesos). The regime managed to maintain the parity with the dollar until the 1980's. The specimen shown is of a type struck for Guatemala in 1974-95. Many varieties exist (KM 275.1 thru 275.5). Numista claims these were struck in Guatemala but the country closed its mint in the 1920's. It was demonetized in 1997. Fray Bartolome de las Casas first appeared on the coin in 1949. He has undergone numerous design changes since and the centavo was changed to aluminum in 1999. His image on the coinage of Guatemala is ironic as he was a strident protester against exploitation of the Indians in 16th century Guatemala, which exploitation continues to this day.
Recorded mintage: 30,000,000.
Specification: 2.5 g, brass, 19 mm diameter, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM 275.4.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Stickney, Brian, A Monetary History of Central America, New York: American Numismatic Society, 2017.
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