Guatemala 1889 1/2 real

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This type was struck 1889-90, along with a one real (KM 153) and two reales (KM 154). This date exists with an 1889/779 overdate. 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: 481,000.

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 155.2.

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:

• 1879 ½ real
• 1880-E ½ real
• 1888 ¼ real
• 1889 ¼ real
• 1893 ½ real, seated Justice, small wreath reverse
• 1893 ½ real, seated Justice, large wreath reverse
• Coins and currency dated 1889
• return to coins of Guatemala