Liberal (1894-1924) Coin List
The Liberal era in Guatemala, which lasted from 1894 to 1924, was a period of important political and economic changes that were also reflected in the country's numismatics. During these years, Guatemala underwent a series of reforms and transformations that directly influenced its monetary system and the coins that circulated in the territory.
Monetary reforms and new coinage
Under the liberal government, Guatemala implemented significant monetary reforms. In 1894, the silver peso was established as the official monetary unit, replacing the old peso fuerte. This new currency was divided into 100 centavos and pieces of various values were minted. The coins of this period were characterized by having the Guatemalan national coat of arms on the obverse side, while the reverse side usually showed the face value and the year of minting. In addition, commemorative coins were introduced to celebrate important events, such as the centennial of independence in 1921, which enriched the country's numismatic diversity.
Economic influence and monetary circulation
The Liberal era brought with it a boom in coffee production, which boosted the Guatemalan economy and increased the need for currency. This led to the minting of larger quantities of coins, including higher denominations to facilitate commercial transactions. However, global economic instability in the early 20th century, especially during World War I, affected the value of silver and thus the value of Guatemalan coins. In response, in 1924 the quetzal was introduced as the new monetary unit, marking the end of the peso era and coinciding with the close of the Liberal period. This monetary transition reflected the political and economic changes that Guatemala was experiencing, leaving a rich and diverse numismatic legacy that is highly valued by collectors and historians today.
The most valuable and popular coins
The most valuable Liberal (1894-1924) coins and sought after by collectors according to Foronum statistics are the following:
The valuation of these coins list has been achieved through a meticulous algorithm that considers the current market, taking into account aspects such as material, weight, diameter, edge, year of mintage, mint of manufacture and the number of coins produced. Coins with limited mintages and in good condition are usually among the most valuable.
Old coins of Guatemala
To facilitate their classification, we have decided to organise the coins according to their historical period, you can consult the coins by historical numismatic categories of Guatemala.
Colonial Period 1524-1823 Federal Era 1823-1829 Farm Coins 1839-1945 Republican Era 1852-1871 Reform Era 1872-1893 Liberal 1894-1924 Modern 1924-?Coin Catalog
Guatemala | 1/4 real
Guatemala | 1/2 real
Guatemala | 1 real
Guatemala | 2 reales
Guatemala | 1/4 real
Guatemala | 1/2 real
Guatemala | 1 real
Guatemala | 1 sol
Guatemala | 12 1/2 centavos
Guatemala | 25 centavos
Guatemala | 50 centavos
Guatemala | 1 peso (Miguel Garcia Granados)
Guatemala | 5 pesos
Other resources to find coins and banknotes of Guatemala
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