Country Of The Day: Guatemala, 1878-F Republic Gold 20 Pesos NGC MS-62

Republic gold 20 Pesos 1878-F MS62 NGC, KM199, Fr-44. "F" is for Johann Baptist Frener, the Guatemala Mint's director and main engraver at the time. Of Swiss origin, Frener was instated as main engraver of the Guatemala Mint by strongman Rafael Carrera, and began to show his talent starting in 1859. His beautiful rendition of the Guatemalan coat of arms depicting the Quetzal bird on the reverse was used in most of that nation's coinage starting in 1872.

This coin represents a scarce survivor, described as "Rare" in the Standard Catalog of World Coins with an unlisted though clearly exceptionally low mintage. Only a very small handful has been seen by the grading services to-date, with only a single other example grading MS62 and none seen finer than MS63. This coin, accordingly, represents the opportunity to acquire what is certainly among the finest extant of the type, and an admirable example at that, showing an impressive fullness of strike and bright shimmering golden surfaces.



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