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8 Reales Type II Counter-mark
| Issuer | Guatemala |
|---|---|
| Year | 1839 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 8 Reales |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Irregular cob flan bearing the host coin's crowned quartered shield of Castile and León at center, with the denomination numeral '8' and assayer letters partially visible to the right within the field. A small circular sunburst or radiate wheel counterstamp, applied by Guatemalan authorities in 1839, is struck into the left field, serving as the official validation mark authenticating the coin for continued circulation. The overall surface is characteristically rough and uneven, consistent with hammered cob coinage produced at a Spanish colonial mint. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Guatemala's 1839 countermark program was a direct response to the monetary chaos following Central American federation collapse. The Federal Republic of Central America dissolved that same year, leaving member states scrambling to assert control over circulating coinage. Guatemala's solution was to punch existing 8 reales — overwhelmingly Spanish colonial and early republican issues — with a national mark, legitimizing foreign silver for domestic use without the expense of a full reminting program.
The Type II designation distinguishes it from an earlier countermark application, reflecting a revised punch used after complaints about strike consistency on the first type.