A Floating Tribute?: The Possible Depiction of the Titanic on a 1922 Guatemalan Banknote

Resumen:

This article examines a peculiar feature of the 5-peso banknote issued by the private Banco de Guatemala in 1922, printed by Waterlow & Sons Ltd. Unlike other denominations issued by this bank, or even the same denomination in earlier years, which featured symmetrical locomotives flanking the national coat of arms as a symbol of progress and industrialization, this banknote replaces the right-hand locomotive with a four-funnel steamship whose appearance evokes the RMS Titanic, sunk in 1912. This break with traditional iconography raises questions about the intent behind this choice: Was it a veiled tribute to the famous transatlantic liner, a reuse of an existing engraving, or an aesthetic decision without specific connotations? Through visual and contextual analysis, this study explores these hypotheses, considering the graphic tradition of Guatemalan banknotes, the editorial practices of Waterlow & Sons, and the historical-cultural impact of the Titanic. A comparison with a later 5-quetzal banknote (1936–1945), also printed by the same firm, underscores the uniqueness of the 1922 design. This study highlights the banknote as a cultural artifact that intertwines aesthetics, history, and national projection, suggesting a possible connection between the global memory of the Titanic and Guatemala’s economic narrative.