50 Centavos

1870 year


Silver (.835) (Copper .165)	12.5 g	31 mm

Description

Issuer	Guatemala
Period	Republic (1841-date)
Type	Standard circulation coin
Year	1870
Value	50 Centavos (0.50)
Currency	Peso, decimalized (1869-1925)
Composition	Silver (.835) (Copper .165)
Weight	12.5 g
Diameter	31 mm
Thickness	2 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Coin alignment ↑↓
Demonetized	Yes
Updated	2024-10-05

References

Numista	N#17250
Rarity index	70%

Reverse

Face value number inside circle with horizontal, plain, vertical and dotted fields. With value unit above. Fineness and date at bottom.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
CENTAVOS
50
*0,835 R. 1870*

Comment

In 1869, Guatemala attempted to adopt the standards of the Latin Monetary Unit. To this effect, the Guatemalan Peso was fixed to 25 grams of .900 silver. Subsidiary coinage was .825 silver.

Due to the "Liberal Revolution", Guatemala removed itself from the Latin Monetary Union in 1871. The real system was reintroduced and the Peso was defined as 25.4 grams of .900 silver.

Interesting fact

One interesting fact about the 1870 Guatemalan 50 Centavos coin is that it was minted during a time of political instability in the country. The coin was issued by the government of President Marshal Vicente Cerna, who had come to power through a military coup in 1865. Cerna's government faced opposition from various factions, including conservative landowners and liberal intellectuals, and the country was in a state of political turmoil during much of his rule. Despite this, the coinage issued during this period, including the 50 Centavos coin, remained a symbol of national pride and unity.