Honduran lempira

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Honduran lempira
Lempira Hondureño (Spanish)
ISO 4217 Code HNL
User(s) Honduras
Inflation 5.7%
Source The World Factbook, 2006 est.
Subunit
1/100 centavo
Symbol L
Coins 5, 10, 20, 50 centavos
Banknotes L1, L2, L5, L10, L20, L50, L100, L500
Central bank Banco Central de Honduras
Website www.bch.hn

The lempira (pronounced /lɛmˈpɪrə/, ISO 4217 code: HNL) is the currency of Honduras. It is subdivided into 100 centavos. The lempira was named after the 16th-century cacique Lempira, a ruler of the indigenous Lenca people, who is renowned in Honduran folklore for leading the (ultimately unsuccessful) local native resistance against the Spanish conquistador forces. He is a national hero, and is honoured on both the 1 lempira note and on the 20 and 50 centavos coins.

Contents

[edit] History

The lempira was introduced in 1931, replacing the peso at par. In the late 1980s, the exchange rate was two lempiras to the U.S. dollar (the 20 centavos coin is called a daime as they used to be worth the same as a U.S. dime). As of August 2006, the lempira was quoted at 18.8932 HNL to 1 USD. U.S. dollars are widely accepted as currency on the Bay Islands, but the mainland mainly deals in lempiras.[citation needed]

[edit] Coins

In 1931, coins were introduced in denominations of 5, 20 and 50 centavos and 1 lempira. 1, 2 and 10 centavos coins were added in 1935, 1939 and 1932 respectively. The silver 1 lempira coins ceased production in 1937, with the other silver coins (20 and 50 centavos) replaced by cupro-nickel in 1967.

Coins currently in circulation are [1]

  • 1 centavo - discontinued
  • 2 centavos - discontinued in 1990
  • 5 centavos
  • 10 centavos
  • 20 centavos
  • 50 centavos

[edit] Banknotes

The Bank of Honduras and the Banco Atlantida issued the first lempira banknotes in 1932. They were in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 lempiras. The Central Bank of Honduras took over production of paper money in 1950, introducing 50 lempiras notes in 1951. In 1975, 100 lemprias notes were added, followed by 500 lempiras in 1995.

Banknotes in circulation are [2]

Image Value Color Dimensions Obverse
L1 Red 156 × 67 mm Lempira
L2 Purple Marco Aurelio Soto
L5 Green Francisco Morazán
L10 Brown Jose Trinidad Cabañas
L20 Green Dionisio de Herrera
L50 Cyan Juan Manuel Galvez
L100 Orange Jose Cecilio del Valle
L500 Violet Ramon Rosa
Current HNL exchange rates
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Use OANDA.com: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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Currencies of the Americas
North America
Central America
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