Guatemala 1865-R 4 reales
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 in circulated condition despite the paltry mintage. Four reales dated 1860-65 exist with el Presidente's portrait, including a gold coin. For 1865, two overdates are noted; 1865/55 and 1865/3.
Recorded mintage: 62,000.
Specification: 12.5 g, .903 fine silver, .362 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: KM 140.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2012.
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