Catalog
1 Real Type IV Countermark
| Issuer | Republic of El Salvador |
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| Year | 1862-1863 |
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| Orientation | Coin alignment ↑↓ |
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| Obverse description | Host coin obverse of a Guatemalan 1 Real depicting the bare-headed portrait of Rafael Carrera in left-facing profile, occupying the central field. A circular legend reads R.AL. CARRERA P.TE DE LA R.DE GUATEMALA along the periphery, bordered by a toothed rim. Prominently applied over the lower portion of the portrait is the Salvadoran Type IV countermark: a circular punch enclosing the letter 'R' within a dotted border, authenticating the coin for circulation in El Salvador. |
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| Reverse description | Reverse of the Guatemalan host coin displaying the arms of the Central American Republic: a volcanic mountain range surmounted by a radiant sun, flanked by two upright flagpoles bearing triangular banners, all within a wreath. The circular legend REPUBLICA DEL CENTRO DE AMERICA runs along the upper periphery, while the lower field bears the fineness notation L. 10 D. 20 G., the date 1831 R., and the denomination UN RE, separated by decorative stops. The design is enclosed by a toothed border. |
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| Additional information |
In the early 1860s, El Salvador lacked the infrastructure to mint its own coinage and relied heavily on Spanish colonial reales still circulating from the preceding generation. Rather than import freshly struck silver, the government authorized countermarking existing 1 Real pieces — overwhelmingly Guatemalan and Bolivian colonial or early republican issues — to assert monetary authority over coins already in daily use. KM#89 represents that program, applied between 1862 and 1863.
The host coin's origin matters considerably to collectors: Bolivian hosts are the most frequently encountered, while authenticated Peruvian hosts command a premium.