1 quetzal 1956

Common. This is a standard regular issue of the Banco de Guatemala with a circulation period of 1955-1957 and no apparent restrictions on print run. eBay market data shows consistent sales of this Pick number in VF condition at $14-23 USD and F condition at $10-32 USD, with 2016 catalog values of $2 (VG), $14 (VF), and $65 (UNC). These modest prices across multiple sales over several years indicate healthy collector availability with no scarcity premium. The Note is neither recalled nor from a short-lived issuer, and PMG population data does not suggest restricted grading activity.

This 1 Quetzal note was issued during the mid-1950s by the Banco de Guatemala following the political upheaval of 1954, during a period when the bank was establishing monetary stability under new governance. The obverse prominently features the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, a symbol of Guatemala's colonial heritage and administrative continuity, while the reverse depicts Lake Atitlán, one of the country's most significant natural and cultural landmarks, reflecting the bank's emphasis on national identity and pride. The February 24, 1956 date marks this as part of the early post-revolution consolidation of Guatemalan currency design.

The obverse displays a formal architectural composition centered on the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, a multi-story colonial building with characteristic arched windows and ornate detailing, rendered in green and pink with cream borders. Decorative numeral '1' frames appear in ornamental cartouches at the upper left and corner positions in green. The upper right features the national symbol, the Quetzal bird. Three official signatures appear at the bottom representing the Presidente, Gerente, and Presidente del Tribunal y Cuentas de Cuentas. The reverse presents a landscape vignette of Lake Atitlán with a prominent mountain backdrop, vegetation, and a church or chapel structure with dome. Cherub or angel figures appear in the lower corner ornamental frames on both sides, and ornamental '1' numerals frame all four corners of the reverse in cream cartouches. Throughout, intricate guilloché patterning and scrollwork provide the security design foundation.

FRONT: 'BANCO DE GUATEMALA' (Bank of Guatemala), 'GUATEMALA, CENTRO AMERICA' (Guatemala, Central America), 'UN QUETZAL' (One Quetzal), 'PALACIO DE LOS CAPITANES GENERALES' (Palace of the Captains General), '24 de Febrero de 1956' (February 24, 1956), and serial number 'T347495'. BACK: 'BANCO DE GUATEMALA' (Bank of Guatemala), 'UN QUETZAL' (One Quetzal), 'LAGO DE ATITLÁN' (Lake Atitlán), and printer attribution 'WATERLOW & SONS LIMITED, LONDRES' (Waterlow & Sons Limited, London).

Intaglio engraving with multi-color letterpress/offset printing, as executed by Waterlow & Sons Limited (established British security printer). The note exhibits the characteristic crisp detail, fine line work, and subtle color gradations typical of high-quality intaglio production. The ornamental guilloché patterns, landscape vignettes, and architectural details all reflect the precision engraving techniques for which Waterlow was renowned. Multiple color passes (green, pink/lavender, black, and cream) were applied using traditional security printing methods.

This specific example bears the date '24 de Febrero de 1956' and serial number 'T347495'. The Pick P-30 catalog lists this as a single base number without noted major varieties, though natural variations exist in signatures and serial prefixes across the 1955-1957 issuance window. The visual analysis confirms this as an authentic Waterlow printing per the printer's attribution on the reverse. No overprints or special varieties are apparent on this specimen.