Modern (1924-?) Coin List
The Modern era in Guatemala from 1924 onwards marked a period of significant changes in the country's monetary history. During this time, Guatemala experienced important economic and political transformations that were reflected in its monetary system and in the currencies that circulated in the national territory.
The Quetzal as the national currency
In 1924, Guatemala officially adopted the Quetzal as its national currency, replacing the old Guatemalan Peso. This decision was part of a series of economic reforms implemented by the government of José María Orellana. The Quetzal was divided into 100 centavos and was initially established at par with the US dollar. The first Quetzal coins were minted in silver and gold, reflecting the country's natural wealth and its aspiration for a stable economy. These pieces featured designs that honored Guatemalan history and culture, including depictions of the quetzal, the national bird, and Mayan motifs on their reverses.
Evolution of Guatemalan coins
Over the following decades, Guatemalan coins underwent several changes in design and composition. In the 1950s, nickel and cupro-nickel coins were introduced for the lower denominations, while higher value coins continued to be minted in silver until the 1960s. An important milestone was the issuance of commemorative coins beginning in the 1970s, celebrating historical events and important national figures. These pieces served not only as a medium of exchange, but also as collector's items and national pride. As the Guatemalan economy faced challenges, the composition of the coins adapted, using cheaper alloys but maintaining designs that reflected the country's identity and cultural heritage.
The most valuable and popular coins
The most valuable Modern (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 | 5 centavos
Guatemala | 5 centavos
Guatemala | 10 centavos
Guatemala | 1/4 de quetzal
Guatemala | 1 quetzal
Guatemala | 1/4 de quetzal
Guatemala | 5 quetzales
Guatemala | 20 quetzales
Guatemala | 1/2 centavo
Guatemala | 1 centavo
Guatemala | 2 centavos
Guatemala | 1 centavo
Guatemala | 2 centavos
Guatemala | 25 centavos
Guatemala | 1 centavo
Guatemala | 10 centavos
Guatemala | 10 centavos
Guatemala | 5 centavos
Guatemala | 25 centavos
Guatemala | 1 centavo
Guatemala | 1 centavo
Guatemala | 5 centavos
Guatemala | 10 centavos
Guatemala | 25 centavos
Guatemala | 50 centavos
Other resources to find coins and banknotes of Guatemala
Can't find what you are looking for? Take a look at our coin finder and speed up your searches within the collections of all collectors, or if you prefer you can search directly in the list of coin collectors and access their profile to see their collections.