1 Quetzal

The Banco de Guatemala's long reliance on the Canadian Bank Note Company dates to mid-century and reflects a broader regional pattern — several Central American central banks contracted with Ottawa-based security printers precisely because domestic facilities couldn't meet anti-counterfeiting standards. By the early 1990s, Guatemala was still importing its lowest denomination note from Canada, a practical choice given the quetzal's chronic inflation pressure during that decade and the corresponding high-volume print runs required to keep 1-quetzal notes in circulation.

The consistent signature pairing of Zapata Sagastume and Linares across all three years suggests unusual stability at the top of the central bank during a period when Guatemala was navigating its slow exit from decades of military-influenced governance.