Obverse:
Depicts the Coat of Arms of Ecuador, featuring Mount Chimborazo, the Guayas River steamer, and the zodiac signs symbolizing the March Revolution of 1845. The legend “REPÚBLICA DEL ECUADOR” surrounds the emblem, emphasizing national identity and sovereignty.

Reverse:
Shows the denomination “20 SUCRES” with the date 1991, arranged in a clear and functional layout. The design is centered around a circular central hole, a practical and distinctive feature used to reduce metal usage and improve coin recognition by touch.

Specifications:

• Composition: Copper-nickel alloy (general issue)

• Weight: approx. 8–9 g (varies slightly by source)

• Diameter: approx. 26–27 mm

• Edge: Smooth

• Shape: Round with central hole

• Alignment: Medal

Historical Insight:
By the early 1990s, Ecuador was facing prolonged economic instability marked by inflation and currency devaluation. Coins like the 20 Sucres were part of attempts to maintain functional cash circulation. Less than a decade later, in 2000, Ecuador abandoned the sucre entirely and adopted the US dollar, making these coins remnants of a vanished monetary system.

Collecting Note:
This coin is especially interesting for collectors due to its unusual holed design, a feature common in Latin American and Asian coinage but less so in Western systems. Combined with its documented storage-auction provenance, it holds added narrative value beyond its modest intrinsic worth. A solid example for collections focused on unusual coin forms, inflation-era currencies, or storage finds with personal history.