(Redirected from ₲)
The 'guaraní' (plural: guaraníes;
ISO 4217 code
PYG) is the national
currency unit
of
Paraguay, commonly written ₲. The guaraní was divided into 100
céntimos but, because of
inflation, céntimos are no longer in use.
History
The law creating the guaraní was passed on
5 October 1943, and replaced the
peso at a rate of 1 guaraní = 100 pesos. Guaraníes were first issued in
1944. Between
1960 and
1982, the guaraní was pegged to the
United States dollar at 126 PYG to 1 USD.
Coins
In 1944, aluminium-bronze coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 céntimos. All were round shaped. The obverses featured a flower with "Republica del Paraguay" and the date surrounding it, except for the 50 centavo which featured the lion and Liberty cap insignia. The denomination was shown on the reverses.
The second issue, introduced in 1953, consisted of 10, 15, 25 and 50 céntimo coins. All were again minted in aluminium-bronze but were scallop shaped and featured the lion and Liberty cap on the obverse. None of the céntimo coins circulate today.
In 1975, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 50 guaraníes, all of which were round and made of
stainless steel. Since 1990, stainless steel has been replaced by brass plated steel nickel-brass. 100 guaraníes coins were introduced in 1990, followed by 500 guaraníes in 1997. 1000 guaraníes coins are expected to be issued in the first months of 2007.
[1]
Banknotes
The first guaraní notes were of 50 céntimos, 1, 5, and 10 guaraní overstamped on 50, 100, 500, and 1000 pesos in 1943. Regular guaraní notes for 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 guaraní, soon followed. They were printed by
De La Rue.
The 1963 series (under the law of 1952) was a complete redesign. The lineup also expanded upward with the addition of 5000 and 10,000 guaraníes. This designed lasted for decades until inflation removed notes up to and including 500 guaraníes from circulation. The 1982 revision added denominations in the
Guaraní language to the reverses.
The first 50,000 guaraníes notes wers issued in 1990, followed by 100,000 guaraníes in 1998. During the last two decades of the 20th century, more than one printer printed guaraní notes.
Starting from 2004, the existing denominations, except 50,000 guaraníes, underwent small but easily noticeable changes, such as a more sophisticated and borderless underprint and enhanced security features. Giesecke & Devrient print the new 20,000 guaraní note, while
De La Rue prints the rest. New 50,000 guaraníes bills have been printed with the date of 2005, but as they obviously reached circulation by criminal ways before being launched officially, this series has been declared void and worthless by the central bank.
[2]
The guaraní is the
least valued currency unit in the
Americas.
See also
★
Economy of Paraguay
References
1. Accessed 2007/07/29
2. http://www.bcp.gov.py/BancoCentral/InfoBillete50Mil.htm
★
A Dictionary of Finance and Banking, , , , Oxford University Press, ,
★
★
External links
★
presentación del nuevo billete de guaraníes 20.000.- Banco Central del Paraguay