GUATEMALA. Trial Strike 5 & 10 Pesos Struck in Brass, 1894. Heaton Mint at Birmingham. NGC MS-63 & MS-64.KM-Pn25; Sweeny-GA7a (5 Pesos). According to James O. Sweeny, brilliant numismatist and famed author of "A Numismatic History of the Birmingham Mint" published 1981 on page 154 he quotes a letter to the Birmingham mint from the Paris legation of Guatemala dated 16 May 1895 "The engraving of the matrices for the gold and silver coins was.. well executed, the designs being both pleasing and artistic, and the specimen gold coins highly satisfactory." This of course refers to the 4 Reales, 1 Peso, 5 and 10 Pesos as well as specimen gold pieces. Sweeny was unaware of the 10 Pesos trial strike as the Heaton mint archives did not contain an example and should be considered EXTREMELY RARE. A lovely matched set with original gold like surfaces which deepen in the open fields and have an iridescent blue sheen while the reverse more of a red sheen. Quite the treat for the specialist of Guatemalan numismatics that are seldom offered.From the Richard Stuart Collection.
