Argentine real
Encyclopedia
The real was the currency of Argentina
until 1881. From 1822, it was subdivided into 10 decimos. The sol
was also issued during this period and was equal to the real, whilst the peso
was worth 8 reales and the escudo
was worth 16 reales.
es circulated alone until 1813, when Argentina began issuing its own coins. From 1820, paper money was also issued. In 1826, the peso moneda corriente
and peso fuerte were introduced in paper money only. In 1854, coins were issued denominated in centavos. However, decimalization did not occur until in 1881, when the real was replaced by the peso moneda nacional
at a rate of 8 reales to 1 peso.
The state of Buenos Aires
issued its own coins starting in 1822, denominated in reales and decimos, with 10 decimos = 1 real.
Coins were issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 20 decimos, together with ¼, ½ (actually shown as ), 1 and 2 reales. They were all minted of copper. Other provinces issued coins denominated in reales (silver) and escudos (gold): Córdoba, Entre Ríos
, La Rioja
, Mendoza
, Salta
, Santiago del Estero
and Tucumán
. Since these coins were scarce, it was common to use silver coins from other countries (especially Bolivian sol
es).
In 1854, coins were issued in the name of the "Confederation of Argentina" in denominations of 1, 2 and 4 centavo coins. As notes above, this issue did not lead to full decimalization.
introduced notes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 40, 50 and 100 pesos. These were followed in 1823 by 1, 3 and 5 pesos. The Banco de Buenos Ayres began issuing notes in 1822 in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 pesos. 1 and 2 peso notes followed in 1823.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
until 1881. From 1822, it was subdivided into 10 decimos. The sol
Argentine sol
The sol was a currency issued in Argentina. It was equal to and circulated alongside the real, with 16 soles = 1 escudo.-Coins:Silver coins were issued in denominations of ½, 1, 2, 4 and 8 soles between 1815 and 1832....
was also issued during this period and was equal to the real, whilst the peso
Peso
The word peso was the name of a coin that originated in Spain and became of immense importance internationally...
was worth 8 reales and the escudo
Escudo
The escudo is a unit of currency. Historically it was used in Portugal and in its colonies, and is still used in Cape Verde to this day. Escudo is Portuguese for "shield"...
was worth 16 reales.
History
Spanish colonial realSpanish colonial real
The silver real was the currency of the Spanish colonies in the Americas and the Philippines. In the seventeenth century the silver real was established at two billon reals or sixty-eight Spanish maravedís. Gold escudos were also issued...
es circulated alone until 1813, when Argentina began issuing its own coins. From 1820, paper money was also issued. In 1826, the peso moneda corriente
Argentine peso moneda corriente
The peso moneda corriente was a non-convertible Argentine paper currency which circulated between 9 January 1826, and 4 November 1881. Its symbol was $m/c. It was also known as the peso papel ....
and peso fuerte were introduced in paper money only. In 1854, coins were issued denominated in centavos. However, decimalization did not occur until in 1881, when the real was replaced by the peso moneda nacional
Argentine peso moneda nacional
The peso moneda nacional was the currency of Argentina between November 5, 1881 and December 31, 1969. It was subdivided into 100 centavos, with the argentino worth 5 pesos. Its symbol was m$n or $m/n. Its ISO 4217 code was ARM.-History:...
at a rate of 8 reales to 1 peso.
Coins
Silver coins were issued in the name of the "Rio de la Plata Province" in denominations of ½, 1, 2, 4 and 8 reales and ½, 1, 2, 4 and 8 soles, whilst gold coins (87.5%) were issued in denomination of 1, 2, 4 and 8 escudos.The state of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
issued its own coins starting in 1822, denominated in reales and decimos, with 10 decimos = 1 real.
Coins were issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 20 decimos, together with ¼, ½ (actually shown as ), 1 and 2 reales. They were all minted of copper. Other provinces issued coins denominated in reales (silver) and escudos (gold): Córdoba, Entre Ríos
Entre Ríos Province
Entre Ríos is a northeastern province of Argentina, located in the Mesopotamia region. It borders the provinces of Buenos Aires , Corrientes and Santa Fe , and Uruguay in the east....
, La Rioja
La Rioja Province (Argentina)
La Rioja is a one of the provinces of Argentina and is located in the west of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise Catamarca, Córdoba, San Luis and San Juan.-History:...
, Mendoza
Mendoza Province
The Province of Mendoza is a province of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region. It borders to the north with San Juan, the south with La Pampa and Neuquén, the east with San Luis, and to the west with the republic of Chile; the international limit is...
, Salta
Salta
Salta is a city in northwestern Argentina and the capital city of the Salta Province. Along with its metropolitan area, it has a population of 464,678 inhabitants as of the , making it Argentina's eighth largest city.-Overview:...
, Santiago del Estero
Santiago del Estero
Santiago del Estero is the capital of Santiago del Estero Province in northern Argentina. It has a population of 244,733 inhabitants, making it the twelfth largest city in the country, with a surface area of 2,116 km². It lies on the Dulce River and on National Route 9, at a distance of...
and Tucumán
Tucumán Province
Tucumán is the most densely populated, and the smallest by land area, of the provinces of Argentina. Located in the northwest of the country, the capital is San Miguel de Tucumán, often shortened to Tucumán. Neighboring provinces are, clockwise from the north: Salta, Santiago del Estero and...
. Since these coins were scarce, it was common to use silver coins from other countries (especially Bolivian sol
Bolivian sol
The sol was the currency of Bolivia between 1827 and 1864. There were no subdivisions of the sol but 16 soles were equal to 1 scudo. The sol replaced the Spanish colonial real at par and was replaced by the boliviano at a rate of 8 soles = 1 boliviano. Only coins were issued.-Coins:In 1827, silver...
es).
In 1854, coins were issued in the name of the "Confederation of Argentina" in denominations of 1, 2 and 4 centavo coins. As notes above, this issue did not lead to full decimalization.
Banknotes
In 1820, the Government of the Province of Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
introduced notes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 40, 50 and 100 pesos. These were followed in 1823 by 1, 3 and 5 pesos. The Banco de Buenos Ayres began issuing notes in 1822 in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 pesos. 1 and 2 peso notes followed in 1823.