Exchange Currency
Uruguayan peso
Uruguayan peso has been a name of the Uruguayan currency since Uruguay's settlement by Europeans. The present currency, the peso uruguayo was adopted in 1993 and is subdivided into 100 centésimos.
Uruguay obtained monetary stability in 1896, based on the gold standard. This favorable state of affairs ended after World War One. An unsettled period followed. Economic difficulties after World War Two produced inflation, which became serious after 1964 and continued into the 1970s.
The Spanish Escudo (XESE) was used in Uruguay while it was a Spanish colony, and Brazilian Mil Reis (BRM) were used while it was occupied by Brazil. Independent Uruguay used the coinage of the United Provinces of the River Plate as legal tender between 1831 and 1840. Uruguay issued its first coins in 1840, although the government did not mint its own coins until 1844. Since 1857 all Uruguayan coins have been minted outside of Uruguay.
Uruguay introduced the Uruguayan Peso Fuerte (UYF), divisible into 100 Centesimos, on June 23, 1862 and the first Peso Fuerte coins were issued in 1869. The Peso Fuerte was linked to the French Franc Germinal at the rate of 1 Peso equal to 5 French Francs. Uruguay left the Gold Standard in November 1929 and introduced exchange controls on September 7, 1931. Inflation led to the introduction of a Peso Nuevo (UYP) on July 1, 1975 at the rate of 1 Peso Nuevo equal to 100 Pesos Fuertes. Further inflation led to the introduction of the Peso Uruguayo (UYU) on March 1, 1993 at the rate of 1 Peso Uruguayo equal to 1000 Pesos Nuevos.
Private banks and the government issued banknotes in Uruguay until 1896. The Banco Nacional was established on June 23, 1862 and began issuing banknotes in 1887. The Banco de la República a Oriental del Uruguay was established on August 24, 1896 and gained the sole right to issue banknotes. The Banco Central del Uruguay succeeded it on March 1, 1967.
The peso was replaced in November 1973 by the new peso at a rate of 1 new peso for 1000 old pesos. The nuevo peso was also subdivided into 100 centésimos. After further inflation, the peso uruguayo replaced the nuevo peso on March 1, 1993, again at a rate of 1 new for 1000 old.
In July 2010, 50 centésimos coins were withdrawn from circulation. New 1, 2, 5, 10 and 50 pesos coins were introduced in January 2011.
Banknotes in circulation are: 20 pesos (Juan Zorrilla de San Martín), 50 pesos (José Pedro Varela), 100 pesos (Eduardo Fabini), 200 pesos (Pedro Figari), 500 pesos (Alfredo Vásquez Acevedo), 1000 pesos (Juana de Ibarbourou) and 2000 pesos (Dámaso Antonio Larranaga)
The 5 peso and 10 peso banknotes have been withdrawn from circulation, given the introduction of the coins of the same value.
Uruguay obtained monetary stability in 1896, based on the gold standard. This favorable state of affairs ended after World War One. An unsettled period followed. Economic difficulties after World War Two produced inflation, which became serious after 1964 and continued into the 1970s.
Summary info
Summary information about Uruguayan peso- ISO 4217 Code:
- UYU
- Currency sign:
- $ or $U
- Country:
- Uruguay
- Subunit:
- centésimo
- Coins:
- 1 Uruguayan peso, 2 Uruguayan pesos, 5 Uruguayan pesos, 10 Uruguayan pesos, 50 Uruguayan pesos
- Banknotes:
- 20 Uruguayan pesos, 50 Uruguayan pesos, 100 Uruguayan pesos, 200 Uruguayan pesos, 500 Uruguayan pesos, 1000 Uruguayan pesos, 2000 Uruguayan pesos
- Central bank:
- Central Bank of Uruguay
History
Juan Diaz de Solis, leading a Spanish expedition in 1515, is credited with the discovery of Uruguay, though Portuguese ships had probably visited the vicinity earlier. Uruguay was a Spanish colony and part of the Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata until 1821 when Brazil occupied Uruguay in 1811. Uruguay gained its independence from Brazil on August 25, 1825, and was reincorporated into the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata. It seceded from the United Provinces on December 1, 1828 and founded the República Oriental del Uruguay on July 18, 1830.The Spanish Escudo (XESE) was used in Uruguay while it was a Spanish colony, and Brazilian Mil Reis (BRM) were used while it was occupied by Brazil. Independent Uruguay used the coinage of the United Provinces of the River Plate as legal tender between 1831 and 1840. Uruguay issued its first coins in 1840, although the government did not mint its own coins until 1844. Since 1857 all Uruguayan coins have been minted outside of Uruguay.
Uruguay introduced the Uruguayan Peso Fuerte (UYF), divisible into 100 Centesimos, on June 23, 1862 and the first Peso Fuerte coins were issued in 1869. The Peso Fuerte was linked to the French Franc Germinal at the rate of 1 Peso equal to 5 French Francs. Uruguay left the Gold Standard in November 1929 and introduced exchange controls on September 7, 1931. Inflation led to the introduction of a Peso Nuevo (UYP) on July 1, 1975 at the rate of 1 Peso Nuevo equal to 100 Pesos Fuertes. Further inflation led to the introduction of the Peso Uruguayo (UYU) on March 1, 1993 at the rate of 1 Peso Uruguayo equal to 1000 Pesos Nuevos.
Private banks and the government issued banknotes in Uruguay until 1896. The Banco Nacional was established on June 23, 1862 and began issuing banknotes in 1887. The Banco de la República a Oriental del Uruguay was established on August 24, 1896 and gained the sole right to issue banknotes. The Banco Central del Uruguay succeeded it on March 1, 1967.
The peso was replaced in November 1973 by the new peso at a rate of 1 new peso for 1000 old pesos. The nuevo peso was also subdivided into 100 centésimos. After further inflation, the peso uruguayo replaced the nuevo peso on March 1, 1993, again at a rate of 1 new for 1000 old.
Coins
In 1994, stainless-steel 10, 20 and 50 centésimos and brass 1 and 2 pesos uruguayos were introduced. 5 and 10 Uruguayan pesos were introduced in 2003 and 2000, respectively. Coins in circulation are: 1 peso uruguayo, 2 Uruguayan pesos, 5 Uruguayan pesos, 10 Uruguayan pesos and 50 Uruguayan pesos.In July 2010, 50 centésimos coins were withdrawn from circulation. New 1, 2, 5, 10 and 50 pesos coins were introduced in January 2011.
Banknotes
In 1995-1996, banknotes in denominations of, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 Uruguayan pesos were introduced, followed by 2000 Uruguayan pesos in 2003.Banknotes in circulation are: 20 pesos (Juan Zorrilla de San Martín), 50 pesos (José Pedro Varela), 100 pesos (Eduardo Fabini), 200 pesos (Pedro Figari), 500 pesos (Alfredo Vásquez Acevedo), 1000 pesos (Juana de Ibarbourou) and 2000 pesos (Dámaso Antonio Larranaga)
The 5 peso and 10 peso banknotes have been withdrawn from circulation, given the introduction of the coins of the same value.
UYU banknotes pictures gallery
| 20 Uruguayan pesos | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 20 Uruguayan pesos has dimensions 160×74 mm and main colors are viridian, xanadu, platinum, mint cream, timberwolf, bubbles and light cyan. The banknote of 20 Uruguayan pesos was issued in 2011. | |
 Obverse side of the 20 Uruguayan pesos is showing the portrait of Juan de San Martin Zorrilla del Pozo. |
 Reverse side of the 20 Uruguayan pesos is showing an image to the poem "La Leyenda Patria". |
| 50 Uruguayan pesos | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 50 Uruguayan pesos has dimensions 160×74 mm and main colors are camouflage green, tea green, pastel gray, moss green, beaver, pale chestnut, pearl, old rose, beige and pale carmine. The banknote of 50 Uruguayan pesos was issued in 2008. | |
 Obverse side of the 50 Uruguayan pesos is showing the portrait of José Pedro Varela. |
 Reverse side of the 50 Uruguayan pesos is showing the Monument to José Pedro Varela. |
| 100 Uruguayan pesos | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 100 Uruguayan pesos has dimensions 160×74 mm and main colors are platinum, dark electric blue, lavender gray, grullo, magnolia, almond, gainsboro, linen and tumbleweed. The banknote of 100 Uruguayan pesos was issued in 2011. | |
 Obverse side of the 100 Uruguayan pesos is showing the portrait of Eduardo Fabini. |
 Reverse side of the 100 Uruguayan pesos is showing the Musical allegory. |
| 200 Uruguayan pesos | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 200 Uruguayan pesos has dimensions 160×74 mm and main colors are light taupe, raspberry glace, rosy brown, desert sand, wheat, moccasin, gainsboro and taupe gray. The banknote of 200 Uruguayan pesos was issued in 2006. | |
 Obverse side of the 200 Uruguayan pesos is showing the portrait of Pedro Figari. |
 Reverse side of the 200 Uruguayan pesos is showing the Baile Antiguo - Old Dance. |
| 500 Uruguayan pesos | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 500 Uruguayan pesos has dimensions 160×74 mm and main colors are pale aqua, ash grey, slate gray, fallow, timberwolf, pastel gray, timberwolf and dim gray. The banknote of 500 Uruguayan pesos was issued in 2006. | |
 Obverse side of the 500 Uruguayan pesos is showing the portrait of Alfredo Vazquez Acevedo. |
 Reverse side of the 500 Uruguayan pesos is showing the Republican University. |
| 1000 Uruguayan pesos | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 1000 Uruguayan pesos has dimensions 160×74 mm and main colors are pale silver, dark tan, camouflage green, desert sand, beaver and almond. The banknote of 1000 Uruguayan pesos was issued in 2011. | |
 Obverse side of the 1000 Uruguayan pesos is showing the portrait of Juana de Ibarbourou. |
 Reverse side of the 1000 Uruguayan pesos is showing the Poetry and books Juana de Ibarbourou. |
| 2000 Uruguayan pesos | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 2000 Uruguayan pesos has dimensions 160×74 mm and main colors are dim gray, gainsboro, platinum, gray, pastel gray, timberwolf and seashell. The banknote of 2000 Uruguayan pesos was issued in 2003. | |
 Obverse side of the 2000 Uruguayan pesos is showing the portrait of Damasio Antonio Larranaga. |
 Reverse side of the 2000 Uruguayan pesos is showing the building of the National Library. |
Useful links
- About Central Bank of Uruguay:
- Central Bank of Uruguay
- List of currencies:
- Currencies
- Security and design features of UYU banknotes:
- UYU banknotes
- UYU currency on Wikipedia:
- Uruguayan peso
- Official Website of Central Bank of Uruguay:
- www.bcu.gub.uy
- Commemorative coins:
- Commemorative Coins