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).

For the new commemorative note, the Bank selected a middle denomination as it wanted to ensure all the public could easily participate in this historic event. The themes of the existing regular 20 quetzales banknote contain many of the design requirements alluding to the independence, and was therefore a good starting reference for this bicentennial note, albeit that the Bank decided to create its own mark in the design.

The note incorporates a significant design change on the front of the note, and for the first time, a vertical orientation was chosen. The back remains landscape format as before. On the front of the note is the portrait of Dr Mariano Gálvez– an important political figure in the early years of independence who helped modernise the state and introduced many modern political ideas and freedoms taken for granted today.

Behind his portrait is Real Palacio de la Nueva Guatemala de la Asuncion, the building where the declaration of independence was signed . Several governing institutions were housed in this building, making it a centre of power at the time. However, it was subject to many earthquakes following its construction, and eventually had to be demolished.

On the reverse of the note is an image of the signing ceremony in 1821, together with an image of the questzal bird that appears on all Guatemala currency. Above the bird is an inscription proclaiming the bicentennial.

Striking visual effects

The front features a striking 5mm Galaxy thread from Louisenthal with a ‘double effect’, embodying the company’s philosophy of ‘unmatched security from within’.

When titled horizontally, the thread displays an animation with the circle, embodying the number 20, moving up and down. But if the note is used in vertical format, ie. the same as the print orientation, it flips image from 20 to a quill. In both orientations it features colour shift from magenta-to-green.

This is the first Galaxy thread to be used in Guatemala, and the first to offer a different effect in any orientation to marry with the design integration. Cleartext alternates between 20 and BG (Banco de Guatemala). The 20 is oriented to be read when holding the banknotes horizontally, and BG to be read when held vertically.

The note also includes SPARK® Live (True spin) with a circle effect. ‘1821 2021’ is printed above the thread (near the portrait), also in magenta-to-green, and within the circular effect, proving near-perfect synchronisation with the thread.

Other features include a watermark of Dr Mariano Gálvez is accompanied by two electrotypes, both the number 20 in Arabic and Mayan numerals.

In addition to substrate security, both the front and back contain some remarkable UV effects.

On the front is a UV block that incorporates a quill – representing the quill used in signing the declaration of independence - surrounded by the Mayan and Arabic numbers ‘20’. In addition, the building and the flag above it become visible under UV.

On the reverse, a silhouette ‘overlay’ of a flag behind the independence signing image can be observed in normal light, appearing as true flag in blue under UV. Within the flag are the years of the bicentennial 1821 2021. And the quetzal bird is perched on the flag mast.

The notes were produced by Giesecke+Devrient and the paper and threads by Louisenthal. 25 million notes were printed. According got the two companies, they have been ‘proud to work on this project with the Banco de Guatemala, and share the memorable experience of this banknote’.