1/2 Real Rafael Carrera

Rafael Carrera ruled Guatemala as an autocrat for the better part of three decades, and the coins issued under his administration reflect a government perpetually short of hard currency. These fractional silver pieces were struck at the Casa de Moneda de Guatemala, which operated under chronic resource constraints — a mint that often struggled to maintain consistent alloy ratios, meaning actual silver fineness on surviving examples can vary noticeably from the nominal .903 specification.

Carrera died in office in April 1865, making the final-year pieces from this run among the last coinage issued under his direct authority before Guatemala's monetary arrangements were reorganized under his successors.