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Guatemala 100 Quetzales 2026: 80 Years of Banco de Guatemala
Quick Facts
- Country: Guatemala
- Denomination: 100 Quetzales
- Year: 2026
- Issuer: Banco de Guatemala
- Material: Paper
- Status: Commemorative circulating banknote
Guatemala’s 100 quetzales commemorative note for 2026 celebrates the 80th anniversary of Banco de Guatemala, and it does so with the country’s most convenient national symbol: the quetzal, a bird so well branded it became the currency itself.
Reports indicate a 15 million-piece issue entering circulation on 25 May 2026. The design keeps the note within the ordinary legal-tender system while adding a commemorative layer that makes it immediately more interesting to collectors.
The front uses the Guatemalan flag, the flying quetzal and Francisco Marroquín; the reverse shifts to the institutional side with 80th-anniversary optical effects and the University of San Carlos Borromeo courtyard.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 100 Guatemalan quetzales |
| Issuer | Banco de Guatemala |
| Commemorates | 80th anniversary of Banco de Guatemala |
| Reported Quantity | 15,000,000 pieces |
| Circulation Date | 25 May 2026 |
| Dimensions | 156 × 67 mm |
| Printer | Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych (PWPW) |
| Main Motif | Flag, flying quetzal, Francisco Marroquín, University courtyard |
| Strategic Tag | animal, 2026 |
Collect banknotes related to this article
Explore authentic world banknotes connected to this country, region or collecting theme.
This is an ideal GlobeNote post because it has a clear date, issuer anniversary, official monetary context and strong visual hooks.
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A Central Bank Anniversary You Can Actually Hold
Commemorative notes work best when they do not feel pasted onto the monetary system. This one remains spendable, which gives it a stronger collector story.
80 Years of Banco de Guatemala
The note marks the institutional history of the central bank, not a vague national celebration. That makes the subject easy to explain and easy to link to official sources.
The Quetzal Effect
The quetzal bird gives the note instant animal-theme appeal and reinforces the currency name itself.
Large Issue, Real Circulation
A 15 million-piece reported quantity means this is not a tiny collector-only trinket. It is a circulating commemorative with broad reach.
The collector angle is not scarcity alone; it is the combination of legal tender, central-bank anniversary and national iconography.
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Obverse Design Elements
The front is built to communicate Guatemala quickly and loudly.
Primary Design Elements
- Guatemalan Flag: The flag anchors the note in national symbolism.
- Flying Quetzal: The bird is both animal motif and currency-name emblem.
- Francisco Marroquín: The portrait keeps continuity with Guatemalan monetary iconography.
- Mayan Number 100: Mayan numbering adds indigenous mathematical and cultural identity.
- Commemorative Layout: The composition balances normal circulation readability with anniversary meaning.
It is a front that knows the bird is the star but refuses to abandon institutional seriousness.
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Reverse Design Elements
The reverse gives the anniversary its architectural and institutional setting.
Primary Design Elements
- 80 Years OVI: The 80th-anniversary element is treated as both message and security feature.
- University of San Carlos Borromeo: The courtyard imagery connects the note to Guatemala’s educational and civic heritage.
- Denomination Clarity: The 100 quetzales value remains easy to read.
- Balanced Composition: The reverse avoids overcrowding, giving the commemorative subject room to breathe.
- Institutional Tone: The design feels celebratory without becoming souvenir-shop glitter.
The reverse turns the note into a small institutional postcard with legal-tender teeth.
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Security Features & Anti-Counterfeiting Technology
Public reporting identifies modern security elements appropriate for a high-use commemorative note.
Watermark / Register
Where published, the note uses classic watermark, electrotype or see-through registration cues that help separate genuine currency from flat digital reproductions.
Security Thread / Foil
Modern circulating notes increasingly rely on windowed threads, foil patches or colour-shifting elements that are obvious to users and awkward for counterfeiters.
Microprinting and UV
Microtext, fluorescent fibres, UV inks and machine-readable details add a second authentication layer beyond the decorative artwork.
OVI Anniversary Element
The 80th-anniversary device functions visually and as a security cue.
Professional Security Printing
PWPW production supports a banknote-grade security architecture.
Legal-Tender Circulation
Because the note circulates, durability and counterfeit resistance matter more than they would for a display-only object.
A commemorative that circulates has to look special without forgetting that cash spends Monday morning.
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Issue Context & Circulation
The note enters a familiar denomination slot but adds anniversary meaning.
Why 15 Million Pieces Matters
A large reported issue supports circulation and public visibility, making the note easier to encounter yet still collectible in UNC condition.
Commemorative Without Isolation
Collectors often prefer commemoratives that are not disconnected from normal currency. This note remains part of everyday money.
SEO Angle
The quetzal bird, central-bank anniversary and 2026 release create strong search paths.
For GlobeNote, this is a classic visual article: bird, anniversary, bank, and clear specifications.
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Collector Market Analysis & Numismatic Significance
The note will appeal to both Latin America collectors and animal-banknote collectors.
Why It Belongs in a Collection
- Official commemorative legal tender.
- Strong quetzal bird motif.
- Clear central-bank anniversary theme.
- Large issue makes it accessible while UNC quality remains desirable.
Condition Strategy
Target fresh uncirculated examples. With 15 million pieces, condition rather than raw availability should drive collector preference.
GlobeNote Linking
This article should connect naturally to animal banknotes, new banknotes and any Guatemala products added later to the store.
It is not rare in the dramatic sense. It is collectible because it is clean, official, visual and very Guatemalan.
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Sources & Further Research
This article was built from verified sources, official issuer material where available, and specialist banknote reporting. Broken, blocked or unconfirmed links were excluded from the public sources box and recorded separately in the audit sheet.
- BanknoteNews: Guatemala new 100-quetzal commemorative note reported — Specialist report with design and issue details.
- Notafilia: Guatemala commemorative banknote and collector coins — Secondary source with issue summary and quantity.
- AGN Guatemala: New 100 quetzales banknote available from 25 May 2026 — Government news source on availability and anniversary context.
Explore Collectible World Banknotes
Browse authentic notes, modern issues and collector favourites in the GlobeNote shop: Shop GlobeNote
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Guatemala 100 Quetzales 2026?
It is a 100 quetzales commemorative legal-tender note celebrating 80 years of Banco de Guatemala.
Is it official currency?
Yes. Reports describe it as a legal-tender Banco de Guatemala issue.
Why does it matter to collectors?
The quetzal bird, central-bank anniversary and 2026 circulation date make it a strong modern commemorative.
Should collectors keep images and source references?
Yes. For modern issues, provenance matters. Keep issuer pages, press releases, catalogue references and any official imagery with the note record.
Where can I find related banknotes?
GlobeNote’s New Banknotes 2026, Polymer Banknotes, Hyperinflation Banknotes and shop pages are useful starting points for collectors building a modern world banknote collection.
This article is part of our New Banknotes 2026 guide.
