10 quetzales 1971 specimen

Common. This is a widely circulated denomination from a long production run spanning 1971-1983 with numerous printings. The eBay price data shows an uncirculated example selling for only $118 in 2020, with catalog values (as of 2019) listed at just $10 UNC. While specimen notes command moderate premiums over circulated examples (specimen grades sold for $177-205), this remains an accessible and relatively common collector note. The large print run over 12 years and continued availability in the secondary market confirm common status.

This note commemorates General Miguel García Granados, who served as President of the Republic of Guatemala from 1871-1873 and is credited with promoting the approval of major legal codes and laws that remained in force for nearly a century. The reverse depicts the National Legislative Assembly session of 1872, directly referencing his presidency and legislative achievements during this transformative period in Guatemalan history. The inclusion of these historical references demonstrates the Banco de Guatemala's effort to honor the nation's political heritage and the modernization era of the late 19th century.

The obverse features a three-quarter profile portrait of General Miguel García Granados positioned at right center, rendered in classical engraving style with fine detail work typical of Thomas de la Rue production. The left side displays the resplendent quetzal bird (Pharomachrus mocinno) in naturalistic green and red coloration, serving as Guatemala's national emblem and wildlife symbol. Decorative heraldic emblems appear in both upper corners—the coat of arms with crown-like design in the upper right and an indigenous-motif heraldic emblem in the upper left. The reverse presents a major allegorical scene: a formal legislative chamber with classical columns, draped fabric, and multiple seated figures in 19th-century governmental attire engaged in legislative proceedings. The quetzal bird appears again on the left border, with an indigenous-design coat of arms in the lower left corner. The overall composition uses pink/magenta as the primary color with beige and green accents, creating a sophisticated and distinctly Guatemalan aesthetic. The denomination '10' appears in circular design (obverse) and rectangular frame (reverse).

FRONT SIDE: 'BANCO DE GUATEMALA' (Bank of Guatemala) / 'GUATEMALA, CENTRO AMERICA' (Guatemala, Central America) / 'DIEZ QUETZALES' (Ten Quetzales) / 'MUESTRA' (Specimen) / 'GENERAL MIGUEL GARCIA GRANADOS' (General Miguel García Granados) / 'PRESIDENTE DE LA REPUBLICA 1871-1873 IMPULSÓ LA APROBACION DE LOS PRINCIPALES CODIGOS Y OTRAS LEYES EN VIGOR DURANTE CASI UN SIGLO' (President of the Republic 1871-1873, Promoted the Approval of the Principal Codes and Other Laws in Force for Nearly a Century) / 'PRESIDENTE' (President) / 'GERENTE' (Manager) / 'JEFE DE LA CONTRALORIA DE CUENTAS' (Chief of the Accounting Control Office) / Serial designation 'A5000000' and 'Nº 00159'. REVERSE SIDE: 'BANCO DE GUATEMALA' (Bank of Guatemala) / 'DIEZ QUETZALES' (Ten Quetzales) / 'MUESTRA' (Specimen) / 'SESION DE LA ASAMBLEA NACIONAL LEGISLATIVA DE 1872' (Session of the National Legislative Assembly of 1872).

Intaglio engraving (line engraving and recess printing), characteristic of Thomas de la Rue's high-security banknote production methods. The fine line patterns, detailed portraiture, complex multi-figure legislative scene, and sophisticated color gradation effects all indicate traditional intaglio techniques combined with multicolor printing. The watermark (Tecun Uman, visible in portrait area) and the crisp, sharp detail reproduction throughout the note confirm professional security printer production standards. The specimen overprint in red diagonal text was applied separately as part of the specimen designation process.

This is identified as a specimen note (MUESTRA overprint, indicated by Pick catalog designation P-61s, where 's' denotes specimen). The specimen number '00159' and serial pattern 'A5000000' indicate this is from the specimen printing run. Based on the REALBANKNOTES.COM reference data, this specimen issue dates to 1978 (per community catalog notation), though the base design year is 1971. The series includes multiple date varieties across the 1971-1983 production period; this particular specimen represents the 1978 specimen issue. Specimen notes from this series typically bear the red 'MUESTRA' diagonal overprint and are distinguished from regular circulation issues by their designation and serial number patterns.