Options
1836 Central American Republic 8 Reales
LochNESS
Posts: 4,829 ✭✭✭
Had to have one of our favorite trees taken down last week, an old silver maple. Long ago it split into two trunks.
At one point, the right trunk was hit by lightning. Still it survived to provide us many years of shade and clean air.
Decided to replace it with a C.A.R. 8 Reales featuring the great ceiba tree - the national tree of Guatemala - which also happens
to be where the coin was struck.
The ceiba tree is their national tree because of its great importance in their native mythology. The trunk is a stairway to heaven. Wide,
very tall, and smooth white-yellow in color. No traditional bark like you'd find on a maple, pine, redwood, etc. At the very top are many
long, thick branches which extend horizontally in every direction. These are the paths to the different gods. The branches are barren of
leaves except for the very ends, where the gods reside. When we die, we ascend up the tree and along the branches to one of the
pockets of heaven. At least, that is the story the guide told us when we visited Tikal.
Before (the center tree with two trunks):
After:
1836 Central American Republic 8 Reales
I've never felt this was an accurate depiction of the ceiba tree, but it's widely accepted that this is supposed to be a ceiba. Here's a picture of a ceiba IRL:
At one point, the right trunk was hit by lightning. Still it survived to provide us many years of shade and clean air.
Decided to replace it with a C.A.R. 8 Reales featuring the great ceiba tree - the national tree of Guatemala - which also happens
to be where the coin was struck.
The ceiba tree is their national tree because of its great importance in their native mythology. The trunk is a stairway to heaven. Wide,
very tall, and smooth white-yellow in color. No traditional bark like you'd find on a maple, pine, redwood, etc. At the very top are many
long, thick branches which extend horizontally in every direction. These are the paths to the different gods. The branches are barren of
leaves except for the very ends, where the gods reside. When we die, we ascend up the tree and along the branches to one of the
pockets of heaven. At least, that is the story the guide told us when we visited Tikal.
Before (the center tree with two trunks):
After:
1836 Central American Republic 8 Reales
I've never felt this was an accurate depiction of the ceiba tree, but it's widely accepted that this is supposed to be a ceiba. Here's a picture of a ceiba IRL:
0
Comments
Amat Colligendo Focum
Top 10 • FOR SALE
<< <i>Nobody has thoughts on the ceiba portrayal? >>
I think it's a beautiful depiction.
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
I am sorry about the tree- tough to loose one like that
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Taler Custom Set
Ancient Custom Set
Anyone aware of other coins with ceiba tree?
It is a lovely depiction of tree in general. Certainly I love the coin.
Thanks for the compliments.
Amat Colligendo Focum
Top 10 • FOR SALE
I have a few photos of ceiba trees from our trip to Belize. I had never been in any kind of jungle before. I enjoyed it very much, except for the army ants. Ouch.
https://www.civitasgalleries.com
New coins listed monthly!
Josh Moran
CIVITAS Galleries, Ltd.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
We were actually in Belize as well, on our trip, and just took a day-venture over the border to Guatemala. We love to go camping but that jungle is a whole other animal. Definitely the best trip of my life. We have discussed buying property down there and/or retiring to Belize on multiple occasions. BTW officially I think they are "leaf cutter" ants
Andy, I wonder if we could plant some? They really are magnificent. I would put them right up there with Redwoods and the giant Sequoia.
Amat Colligendo Focum
Top 10 • FOR SALE