Guatemalan Independence Creates a Banknote in a New Light

2021 is a profoundly important year for much of Central America. Guatemala celebrates its bicentennial, recognising 200 years of independence from Spain, declared on 15 September 1821 in what is known as the Act of Independence of Central America. It shares this historical event with four other countries in the region (Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, which were part of ‘Capitanía General de Guatemala’, a region of the Spanish empire).

A new 20 quetzales banknote was put into circulation on 6 September to mark the occasion, and significantly, is the first commemorative note ever launched by Banco de Guatemala.

The Guatemala currency is named after the Resplendent Quetzal, the country’s national bird (the tail feathers of which were used as currency in ancient Mayan culture). It was introduced in 1925 and is currently denominated in notes of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 quetzales, as well as coins of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 centavos and 1 quetzal (a commemorative version of which has also been issued).