GUATEMALA ISSUES NEW COMMEMOTAIVE BANKNOTE
Banco de Guatemala (Banguat) presented a new commemorative banknote with a face value of 100 Quetzales on May 18, 2026. The banknote is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of central banking in the country and the 80th anniversary of the founding of Banco de Guatemala.
In 1926, Guatemala introduced the national currency, the Quetzal, as part of a monetary reform. In 1946, Banco de Guatemala was established as an independent institution. The new banknote also marks the 350th anniversary of Universidad San Carlos de Borromeo. The President of Banco de Guatemala, Álvaro González Ricci, stated that the banknote symbolizes the history and stability of the country's financial system.
Mintage and Issue Date
The banknote was produced in a mintage of 15 million pieces (equivalent to 1.5 billion Quetzales). It is legal tender and has been circulating alongside regular 100 Quetzales banknotes since May 25, 2026. The production was carried out by the Polish state printing works PWPW S.A. (Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych) on 100% cotton paper.
Design
Front side (obverse): A portrait of Bishop Francisco Marroquín (1478–1563), the first bishop of Guatemala. A flying Quetzal from the 1960 design is also depicted. Elements are borrowed from previous issues, particularly from the 1948 banknote.
Back side (reverse): The historical building of Universidad San Carlos de Borromeo. The inscription "80 Años" and motifs from the mural on the facade of the Banco de Guatemala building.
Security Features
The banknote features:
A windowed security thread with microtext and the number "100" in Arabic and Mayan numerals.
A watermark.
Tactile elements and Braille for the visually impaired.
A latent image, perfect see-through register, optically variable ink, and other international security features.
The banknote is available through the banking system. Banco de Guatemala also announced plans for special exchange points during the first days for those wishing to obtain the new commemorative version.
