16 Pesos Rafael Carrera

Rafael Carrera ruled Guatemala as a largely illiterate mestizo caudillo who had risen through peasant rebellion to become the country's dominant political figure — an unlikely architect of a gold coinage series. The 16 Peso denomination was introduced as Guatemala attempted to maintain a functioning hard currency amid chronic regional instability following Central American federation collapse. Carrera died in office in April 1865, making the latest-dated pieces from this short window among the final monetary acts of his government.