1925 Guatemalan 1 Quetzal Coin

Hello,

I have a 1925 1 Quetzal coin which I'd like to verify if it's authentic. Numista and other coin sites show it to be 38mm in diameter but mine is 39mm. With my scale, the weight is within a couple thousanths of a gram of what's stated in Numista.

Does anyone have this coin to help me out?

Please email me at com1forba@yahoo.com.

Thanks,
Bob

Welcome to numista.

Please read this https://en.numista.com/forum/topic71935.html

Then join the images, please.

This coin is quite hard to find. Recorded mintage: 10,000 with most melted afterwards.
Numista gives 38mm but another coin collector website gives : 39mm.
Due to its rarity, modern silver fakes are common.

A picture is deemed necessary

These pictures look like the coin was casted.

Hi and thanks for the quick reply. Here are photos of the 1925 Guatemalan 1 Quetzal coin that I have.

The coin weighs on my scales 33.36 grams, is 39mm in diameter and approximately 3.15mm thick at the rim. It has a cleanly lettered edge stating: "America Central Republica de Guatemala" with evenly spread letters with dashes in between words.



Regards and thanks for the help,
Bob

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces17255.html

Thanks for that reply. As far as I find, that site only shows the moden 1 Quetzal coins and not the 1925.

Regards,
Bob

First of all I precise that this coin is far from my domaine of expertise.
At first glance I would say "too nice to be true "
Then, with many quotes, I'd rather think your coin was not struck on 1925.
- No scratch on obverse yet the quetzal is blurry.
- Fruits of the wreath of laurel are not well defined
Compare to this MS62 Coin

Thank you French Lover for your comments. Well taken. I now realize that I need to submit it for authentication and grading.

And thanks for the photo, it helps me greatly!

Regarding the possibility that it wasn't struck in 1925 - 1925 is the only year these were minted so I suspect that either it's genuine or a very good copy.

Have you run across any fakes that had edge lettering as this one does? I suspect that it might be hard to fake but I'm sure where there's a will, there's a way.

Thanks again,
Bob

I didn't find any "good fake" on the web, only well conservered coins as this one :


Your attemp to certify your coin is a good decision for a so expensive coin

Welcome to Numista!


https://www.silvercoins.com/fake-silver-coins-14-ways-to-spot-counterfeits/

https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/chinese-coin-counterfeiting-ring-4071202

Thanks !!

To French Lover,

Hi,

I submitted the coin to NCG and they have authenticated it. As you remember my coin measures 39 mm in diameter and most sites list it as 38 mm. You mentioned that some sites list it as 39 mm in diameter. Can you please tell me what sites they are? I'm interested in updating the information in the Numista data base.

Thanks !!

well, this is a wonderful news
here

Thank you so much for the quick reply. Yes, good news indeed. I sent it off 4 weeks ago and have counted the days. It's still in the mail back to me so I don't yet know the grading but I heard over the phone that it is authentic. I'll let you know the grading when it comes sometime this week. I'll also submit a addition to the Numista page for this coin providing the diameter, thickness and a photo.

Thanks for the site reference.

And thanks so much for your help and interest !!

Best Regards,
Bob

By the way, French Lover,

What do you mean by the Latin "Dispone domui tuae, quia morieris tu, et non vives"  ? Does it mean 'put your house in order before you die'?

The translations are sketchy.

Regards,
Bob

Isaiah-38
Hezekiah being ill, Isaiah came to tell him that his death was not far away. This news made this king so humble and penitent that God, moved by his prayer and his tears, sent him the same prophet to assure him that he would grant him another fifteen years of life and that he would deliver him from the king of the Assyrians.

It evokes preparation for death.
The death of so many people who are constantly disappearing around you is a constant warning that we will die one day. It is very surprising that we must still warn us in particular and tell us what the prophet said to King Hezekiah: Dispone domui tuae, quia morieris tu, and non vives.
Learn that the best thing you can do when you see others die is tell yourself that you will die soon,
that they have taken a step that you will take shortly,
that they opened a door that they did not close and
that all your aplication must be to prepare you to the same passage, by a sincere detachment from all these goods you've hoarded, ensuring that you will not keep it for long. Life is only too short, even long it may seem to you, to prepare you for death. The gospel is filled with these warnings: Videte, vigilate, et orate; nescitis enim quando tempus sit…

Nowadays, we rather follow the epicurean philosophy "carpe diem"
but is it so far apart?
Enjoying life is not in contradiction with well preparing your death

Your response is stunning and prophetic I will respond tomorrow.


Thanks
Bob

Hi,

I want to thank you all for your help and suggestions about my Guatemalan 1 Quetzal coin. I just got it back from NGC today and they graded it AU53. It took 7 weeks round trip. Here are the pics:



Regards,
Bob