Peruvian nuevo sol

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Peruvian nuevo sol
nuevo sol peruano (Spanish)
1 Nuevo Sol (Reverse) 1 Nuevo Sol (Obverse)
1 Nuevo Sol (Reverse) 1 Nuevo Sol (Obverse)
ISO 4217 Code PEN
User(s) Peru
Inflation 1.5%
Source Inflation Report, May 2007, Central Reserve Bank of Peru
Subunit
1/100 céntimo
Symbol S/.
Plural nuevos soles
céntimo céntimos
Coins
Freq. used 10, 20, 50 céntimos, 1, 2, 5 nuevos soles
Rarely used 1, 5 céntimos
Banknotes 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 nuevos soles
Central bank Central Reserve Bank of Peru
Website www.bcrp.gob.pe
Mint National Mint (Casa Nacional de Moneda)

The nuevo sol (plural: nuevos soles) (S/.) is the currency of Peru. It is subdivided into 100 céntimos. The ISO 4217 currency code is PEN.

The name is a return to that of Peru's historic currency, the sol in use from the 19th century to 1985. Although the derivation of sol is from the Latin solidus, the name means sun in Spanish. There is a continuity therefore with the old Peruvian inti, which was named after Inti, the Sun God of the Incas.

Contents

[edit] History

Because of the bad state of economics in the 1980s and hyperinflation in the late 1980s the government was forced to abandon the inti and introduce the nuevo sol as the country's new currency.[1] The currency was put into use on July 1, 1991 (by Law N° 25295) to replace the inti at a rate of 1 nuevo sol = 1,000,000 intis.[2] Coins denominated in the new unit were introduced on October 1, 1991 and the first banknotes on November 13, 1991.

The nuevo sol currently retains a low inflation rate of 1.5%.[3] Since the new currency was put into effect, it had managed to maintain a stable exchange rate between 3.5 and 3.2 nuevo soles per United States dollar, until recently, when the rate fell to 2.69 nuevos soles per USD.

[edit] Coins

The current coins were introduced in 1991 in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 céntimos and 1 nuevo sol.[2] The 2 and 5 nuevos soles coins were added in 1994. Although 1 and 5 céntimo coins are officially in circulation, they are very rarely used. An aluminium 1 céntimo coin was introduced in December 2005.[4], and a 5 céntimos coin in 2007 [5]. All coins show the coat of arms of Peru surrounded by the text Banco Central de Reserva del Perú (Central Reserve Bank of Peru) on the obverse. The reverse of all coins shows the denomination. Included in the design of the bi-metallic 2 and 5 nuevos soles coins are the Nazca lines hummingbird and frigatebird figures.[6]

Image Value Diameter Thickness Mass Composition Edge
1 céntimo 16 mm 1.05 mm 1.78 g Brass Smooth
1 céntimo 16 mm 1.50 mm 0.82 g Aluminium Smooth
5 céntimos 18 mm 1.26 mm 2.70 g Brass Smooth
5 céntimos 18 mm 1.50 mm 1.02 g Aluminium Smooth
10 céntimos 20.5 mm 1.26 mm 3.50 g Brass Smooth
20 céntimos 23 mm 1.26 mm 4.40 g Brass Smooth
50 céntimos 22 mm 1.65 mm 5.45 g Cu–Zn–Ni Reeded
1 nuevo sol 25.5 mm 1.65 mm 7.32 g Cu–Zn–Ni Reeded
2 nuevos soles 22.2 mm 2.07 mm 5.62 g Bi-metallic
Outside ring: Steel
Centre: Cu–Zn–Ni
Smooth
5 nuevos soles 24.3 mm 2.13 mm 6.67 g Bi-metallic
Outside ring: Steel
Centre: Cu–Zn–Ni
Smooth

[edit] Banknotes

In 1991, banknotes for 10, 20, 50 and 100 nuevos soles were introduced.[2] The banknote for 200 nuevos soles was subsequently introduced in August 1995.[7] All notes are of the same size (140 x 65 mm) and contain the portrait of an well-known historic Peruvian on the obverse.[8]

Obverse Reverse Value (S/.) Dimensions Main color Depicted person (obverse)
10 140 × 65 mm Green José Abelardo Quiñones Gonzáles
20 Orange Raúl Porras Barrenechea
50 Brown Abraham Valdelomar Pinto
100 Blue Jorge Basadre Grohmann
200 Pink Saint Rose of Lima
Current PEN exchange rates
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[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ San José State University Department of Economics, The economic history and the economy of Peru. Retrieved on July 11, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c (Spanish) Law N° 25295, Unidad Monetaria Nuevo Sol, January 3, 1991
  3. ^ (Spanish) Banco Central de reserva del Perú, Inflation Report, May 2007, Central Reserve Bank of Peru. Retrieved on July 11, 2007
  4. ^ (Spanish) Circular letter N°021–2005-BCRP, December 7, 2005, Central Reserve Bank of Peru
  5. ^ World coin news Wednesday, August 29, 2007 http://worldcoinnews.blogspot.com/2007/08/peru-5-centimos-2007-aluminium.html#comments
  6. ^ (Spanish) Banco Central de reserva del Perú, Cono Monetario. Retrieved on July 14, 2007.
  7. ^ (Spanish) Circular letter N°028-97-EF/90, August 26 1997, Central Reserve Bank of Peru
  8. ^ (Spanish) Banco Central de reserva del Perú, Familia de Billetes. Retrieved on July 14, 2007.

[edit] External links