2019-10-10 Thu

Guatemala, a Central American country south of Mexico, is home to volcanoes, rainforests and ancient Mayan sites. The capital, Guatemala City, features the stately National Palace of Culture and the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Antigua, west of the capital, contains preserved Spanish colonial buildings. Lake Atitlán, formed in a massive volcanic crater, is surrounded by coffee fields and villages.

The Quetzal is the currency of Guatemala, named after the national bird of Guatemala, the resplendent quetzal. In ancient Mayan culture, the quetzal bird's tail feathers were used as currency. It is divided into 100 centavos or lenes in Guatemalan dialect.

Today we are looking at a 20 Quetzales banknotes issued in 2003. The obverse depicts the portrait of Doctor Mariano Galvez to right; a Quetzal bird to right flying over a Maya cultural heritage and sculptures; and a Stylised pyramid.

The reverse depicts an allegory of the Granting of Independence to Central America in centre; with Maya writings and ornaments; Mayan god sculptures flanking on its sides.

Image Courtesy: eBay.com