Guatemalan and Paraguayan variations

[<k>]

I have heard that the regular changes made to these coins had something to do with avoiding payments for copyright, but I cannot remember the details and do not know whether it is true.

It is interesting that these examples come from two Latin American countries, and that there are so many variations. Do you know of any similar examples from elsewhere?

[goossen]

I have heard that the regular changes made to these coins had something to do with avoiding payments for copyright, but I cannot remember the details and do not know whether it is true.

I can confirm this for Paraguay, and the same is valid for banknotes as well.

For some reason the mint, or paper money print "owns" the design.
For every new emission, the government issues an invitation to tender and several mints take part. If the winning party is different to the previous one, a small change in the design is introduced to avoid copyright claims.

[<k>]

See also:

Coinage of Paraguay since 1975.

Original 1974 sketches of the 1975 Paraguayan coin series

Paraguay: floral set of 1944 to 1951

[<k>]

Guatemala, 25c, 1987.




Guatemala, 25c, 1967.

[<k>]

Even the quetzal bird has changed significantly over the years.