Guatemala new 200-quetzal note confirmed


200 quetzales (US$25)
Blue. Front: Quetzal bird; flag; coat of arms; Sebastián Hurtado, Mariano Valverde, and German Alcántara. Back: Musical score of La Flor del Café by Alcántara; marimba chromática instrument by Hurtado; and allusion to Noche de luna entre ruinas by Valverde. Windowed security thread with demetalized 200BG. Watermark: Hurtado, Valverde, Alcántara, and electrotype 200. Printer: (G&D). 156 x 67 mm. 18 DE FEBRERO DE 2009.

The Bank of Guatemala introduced a new 200-quetzal (US$25) note on 23 August 2010 (originally scheduled for November 2009) in response to high demand and counterfeiting rate of the existing 100-quetzal note, which was issued with improved security on 6 November 2009. The Q200 is printed by the German firm Giesecke & Devrient, whereas the Q100 is printed by the Dutch company Joh Enschedé Banknotes. The notes have over 20 security features, including special paper, UV ink, latent image, OVI, security thread, holographic patch, and laser etching of the serial number below the watermark area.

Courtesy of Thomas Augustsson.