1 peso 1899

Common. While regional bank notes from this era can command collector interest, eBay market data shows this Pick number regularly trading between $135–$445 USD depending on condition, with Fair condition specimens (matching this note's grade) consistently selling in the $225 range. This pricing pattern indicates healthy supply and steady demand—the hallmark of common banknotes. Banco de Occidente was an established regional institution (not short-lived), and ABNC printing was professional and substantial. No evidence of low print runs, recalls, or scarcity factors applies to this variety.

This note was issued during Guatemala's late Liberal period under the regime of Manuel Estrada Cabrera, when regional banks like Banco de Occidente played crucial roles in local commerce and economic development. The allegorical figure of Commerce and the prominently featured quetzal bird reflect Guatemala's self-identification as a nation of commerce and natural wealth during this era of modernization and nation-building. The American Bank Note Company printing demonstrates Guatemala's reliance on sophisticated foreign security printing technology to establish credible currency during the formative years of the republic's banking system.

The obverse features a classical allegorical composition with Commerce personified as a seated female figure in the center, positioned by water with merchant sailing ships in the background—symbolizing international trade and maritime commerce. The Guatemalan national coat of arms occupies the left side, displaying the text 'LIBERTAD, ORDEN, CONSTITUCION' (Liberty, Order, Constitution), emphasizing republican ideals. The right side displays an ornate medallion containing the resplendent quetzal, Guatemala's national bird and cultural symbol. The design is framed by baroque-style decorative borders with elaborate scrollwork. The reverse presents a highly symmetrical design dominated by four corner medallions containing heraldic shields or coat-of-arms elements, with an elaborate central decorative medallion and intricate geometric and floral patterns throughout, rendered in the characteristic teal-green color specified for the back. Fine line engraving and cross-hatching create depth and anti-counterfeiting complexity.

Front Side: 'BANCO DE OCCIDENTE' (Bank of the Occident); 'EN QUEZALTENANGO' (In Quezaltenango); 'UN PESO' (One Peso); 'LA PRESENTACION' (The Presentation); 'JUNIO 30 DE 1899' (June 30, 1899); Serial number '1352'; 'DIRECTOR' (Director); 'PRESENTE' (Present); 'American Bank Note Co New York' (printer attribution). Back Side: 'BANCO DE' (Bank of); 'OCCIDENTE' (Occident); 'EN QUEZALTENANGO' (In Quezaltenango).

Steel engraving with multicolor printing (known as taille-douce or intaglio printing). The note employs a complex underprint with multiple color plates—black on green, red, blue, brown, and orange—typical of American Bank Note Company's premium security printing methods of the period. The fine line engraving, detailed background patterns, and precise registration of multiple color layers are characteristic of late 19th-century ABNC production standards. The reverse's teal-green monochromatic design suggests a separate color plate from the multicolored obverse.

This note corresponds to Pick catalog P-S173b. The PMG population report identifies two cataloged variants: P-S173bp and P-S173fp. Based on the visual analysis, this appears to be a specimen with the stamped date on the printed line as noted in the reference data. The serial number '1352' and the specific June 30, 1899 date mark this as a regular-issue note from the initial release. The note's design and inscription placement are consistent with the standard design for this Pick number; no overprints, signature variations, or other distinguishing features suggesting a sub-variety are evident from the images.