Chilean peso
| peso chileno Template:Es icon | |
|---|---|
Currently circulating banknotes | |
| ISO 4217 | |
| Code | CLP (numeric: 152) |
| Unit | |
| Symbol | $ |
| Denominations | |
| Subunit | |
| 1/100 | centavo |
| Banknotes | 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000 pesos |
| Coins | 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 pesos |
| Demographics | |
| User(s) | Chile |
| Issuance | |
| Central bank | Banco Central de Chile |
| Website | www.bcentral.cl |
| Mint | Casa de Moneda |
| Website | www.cmoneda.cl |
| Valuation | |
| Inflation | 2.1% |
| Source | The World Factbook, 2006 est. |
The peso is the currency of Chile. The symbol used locally for it is $. Its ISO 4217 code is "CLP".
First peso, 1817-1960
The first Chilean peso was introduced in 1817, at a value of 8 Spanish colonial reales. Until 1851, it circulated alongside silver coins denominated in reales and gold coins denominated in escudos (worth 2 pesos).
In 1835, copper coins of denominations ½ and 1 centavo were introduced but it was not until 1851 that the real and escudo denominations ceased to be issued and further issues in centavos and décimos (worth 10 centavos) commenced. From 1925, coins and banknotes were issued denominated in cóndores, worth 10 pesos.
The escudo replaced the peso on January 1, 1960 at a rate 1 escudo = 1000 peso.
Second peso, 1975-
The current peso was introduced in 1975, replacing the escudo at a rate of 1 peso = 1000 escudos. It was subdivided into 100 centavos until 1984.
Coins
In 1975, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 50 centavos and 1 peso. The 1, 5 and 10 centavo coins were very similar to the 10, 50 and 100 escudo coins they replaced. Since 1983, inflation has left the centavo coins obsolete. Coins currently in use are in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 pesos.
| 1 peso 1981-92 | |
|---|---|
| File:CHL014.JPG | |
| Bernardo O'Higgins | Value |
During the military dictatorship in Chile (1973-1990), the design of the back of the 10 pesos coin was changed. During this time, this coins had the image of a winged female figure wearing a classical robe. She is portrayed as if she had just broken a chain tying her two hands together, since from both of her wrists a piece of chain can be seen hanging. To her side, in small Roman numerals, the date of the coup d'état is marked, and underneath the word Libertad (Spanish for freedom) is written in all caps. After the return of democracy, the original design with the portrait of Bernardo O'Higgins was reestablished.
Banknotes
In 1975, banknotes were introduced in denominations of 5, 10 and 50 pesos with the reverses of the 5 and 10 peso notes resembling those of the 5000 and 10,000 escudo notes they replaced. Inflation has since lead to the issue of much higher denominations. Banknotes currently in use are 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000 and 20,000 pesos. All banknotes are printed on paper with the exception of the 2000 peso note which has been issued as a polymer banknote since September 2004. In Chilean slang, one thousand pesos is often referred to as 'una luca'.
In popular culture
Colloquial Chilean Spanish has informal names for some banknotes and coins. These include "luka" or "luca" for the thousand-peso banknote, "quina" for the five-hundred-peso coin ("quinientos" is Spanish for "five hundred"), and "gamba" for the hundred-peso coin.
Also, some banknotes are called informally by the name of the notable citizen printed on it. For example, the five thousand-peso banknote is sometimes called a "gabriela" (for Gabriela Mistral), and the ten thousand-peso banknote "arturo" or "arturito" (for Arturo Prat, "arturito" meaning "little arturo").
| Current CLP exchange rates | |
|---|---|
| From Google Finance: | AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD |
| From Yahoo! Finance: | AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD |
| From XE.com: | AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD |
| From OANDA: | AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD |
See also
References
- Krause, Chester L.; Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801–1991 (18th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0873411501.
- Pick, Albert (1994). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: General Issues. Colin R. Bruce II and Neil Shafer (editors) (7th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-207-9.
External links
Template:Standard numismatics external links
| Preceded by: Spanish colonial real Ratio: 8 reales = 1 peso |
Currency of Chile 1835 – December 31, 1959 |
Succeeded by: Chilean escudo Ratio: 1 escudo = 1000 pesos |
| Preceded by: Chilean escudo Ratio: 1 peso = 1000 escudos |
Currency of Chile 1975 – |
Succeeded by: Current |