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ARS – Argentinian Pesos

Argentina has its roots in Spanish colonization of the region during the 16th century. Argentina rose as the successor state of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, a Spanish overseas viceroyalty founded in 1776. The declaration and fight for independence (1810 – 1818) was followed by an extended civil war that lasted until 1861, culminating in the country’s reorganization as a federation of provinces with Buenos Aires as its capital city.

Monetary System

1881: 1 peso moneda nacional = 100 centavos
1970: 1 peso ley 18.188 (ARL) = 100 pesos moneda nacional
1983: 1 peso argentino (ARP) = 10,000 pesos ley 18.188
1985: 1 austral (ARA) = 1,000 pesos argentinos
1992: 1 Argentine peso (ARS) = 10,000 australes

Beginning in 1813, there was a chaotic mix of local, private, and provincial banks issuing notes in Argentina. On 5 November 1881, Law 1130 established the peso moneda nacional (peso national currency), commonly referred to simply as the peso, each divided into 100 centavos. As its name implies, the peso moneda nacional was the first currency good throughout the country.

National Bank
Banco Nacional

The Banco Nacional (Spanish: National Bank, NAC) was technically a private institution, but coverage of its notes is included with the subsequent national issues for continuity’s sake due to design similarities.

2023 Issues

On 23 May 2022, the Banco Central de la Republica Argentina unveiled 100- to 1,000-peso notes featuring heroes and cultural figures instead of animals as on the preceding issues, but retaining the same color schemes. The new notes were expected to be introduced within six months, and were intended to circulate in parallel with the animal issues. Only the 1,000-peso note was introduced. Due to ongoing inflation which has eroded their values significantly, the 100-, 200-, and 500-peso denominations are likely never to be introduced. On 2 February 2023, the Banco Central de la Republica Argentina unveiled a new 2,000-peso denomination commemorating the development of science and medicine in Argentina. This denomination was revised on 7 November 2023 with additional security features. On 7 May 2024, the Banco Central de la Republica Argentina introduced a new 10,000-peso note using the same design originally intended for the unissued 500-peso note unveiled two years prior. A new 20,000-peso note featuring Juan Bautista Alberdi is expected to be introduced in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Description: 100 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Violet. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; flowers; Maria Eva Duarte de Peron; rose in OVI. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; sunburst; crowd of women with Maria Eva Duarte de Peron, proponent of Law 13.010; women voting in 1948. Windowed security thread with printed BCRA 100. Watermark: Maria Eva Duarte de Peron and electrotype EP. Printer: CASA DE MONEDA ARGENTINA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 200 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Blue. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; flowers; Martin Miguel de Giiemes and Juana Azurduy; poncho in OVI. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; sunburst; group of soldiers on horseback during Camparia gaucha (1814 – 1825). Windowed security thread with printed BCRA 200. Watermark: Martin Miguel de Guemes, Juana Azurduy, and electrotype MG and JA. Printer: CASA DE MONEDA ARGENTINA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 500 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Green. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; flowers; Maria Remedios del Valle and Manuel Belgrano; sunburst in OVI. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; sunburst; soldiers on horseback pledging allegiance to the flag (27.02.1812). Windowed security thread with printed BCRA 500. Watermark: Maria Remedios del Valle, Manuel Belgrano, and electrotype MV and MB. Printer: CASA DE MONEDA ARGENTINA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 1,000 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Yellow. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; flowers; Jose de San Martin; flames in OVI. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; sunburst; soldiers on horseback crossing the Andes (17.01.1817). Windowed security thread with printed BCRA 1000. Watermark: Jose de San Martin and electrotype JSM. Printer: CASA DE MONEDA ARGENTINA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 2,000 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Pink, red, and black. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; facade of Ma’bran Institute; doctors Ram& Carrillo and Cecilia Grierson; caduceus on shield in green OVI. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms of Argentina; facade of National Institute of Microbiology in Buenos Aires. No security thread. Watermark: Ramon Carrillo and Cecilia Grierson. Printer: CASA DE MONEDA ARGENTINA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 2,000 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Pink, red, and black. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; facade of Malbran Institute; doctors Ramon Carrillo and Cecilia Grierson; caduceus and denomination on shield in green-to-blue OVI. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms of Argentina; facade of National Institute of Microbiology in Buenos Aires. Green windowed security thread with demetalized BCRA. Watermark: Ramon Carrillo, Cecilia Grierson, and electrotype RC and CG. Printer: CASA DE MONEDA ARGENTINA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 10,000 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Blue-green. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; flowers; Maria Remedios del Valle and Manuel Belgrano; sunburst in OVI. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms of Argentina; soldiers on horseback pledging allegiance to the flag (27.02.1812); denomination as registration device. Windowed security thread. Watermark: Maria Remedios del Valle, Manuel Belgrano, and electrotype MV and MB. Printer: (China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation). 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 20,000 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Blue, green, ochre, and violet. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; flowers; Juan Bautista Alberdi; book in magenta-to-green OVI. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms of Argentina; birthplace of Juan Bautista Alberdi in San Miguel de Tucuman; denomination as registration device. Blue windowed security thread with demetalized BCRA. Watermark: Juan Bautista Alberdi, and electrotype JBA. Printer: (China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation). 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

2016 – 2018 Issues

This new family of notes features Argentine wildlife, with a different native animal on front and the characteristic habitat for the species on the back, along with a species distribution map showing the current distribution in the shaded areas.

Description: 20.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Red. Front (vertical): Spanish text; flower petal as registration device; guanaco; flowers; silhouette of kneeling guanaco with latent image RA. Back: Spanish text; flowers; baby guanaco; lake and clouds over Patagonian steppe; map of Argentine Sea, Antarctica, and South Atlantic Islands; flower petal; compass rose; coat of arms. Color-shifting windowed security thread with demetalized $20 BCRA. Watermark: Guanaco and electrotype 20. Printer: S.E. CASA DE MONEDA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 50.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Gray, blue, green, and red. Front (vertical): Spanish text; condor. Back: Spanish text; Andean Region. Solid security thread with demetalized $50 BCRA. Watermark: Condor and electrotype 50. Printer: S.E. CASA DE MONEDA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 100.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Violet. Front (vertical): Spanish text; taruca. Back: Spanish text; baby taruca; Northwest Region. Color-shifting windowed security thread with demetalized $100. Watermark: Taruca and electrotype 100. Printer: S.E. CASA DE MONEDA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 200.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Blue. Front (vertical): Spanish text; whale tail as registration device; Southern right whale; coral; silhouette of whale with latent image RA. Back: Spanish text; flowers; baby whale; sea grass; map of Argentine Sea, Antarctica, and South Atlantic Islands; whale tail; compass rose; coat of arms. Color-shifting windowed security thread with demetalized 200. Watermark: Breeching whale and electrotype 200. Printer: S.E. CASA DE MONEDA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 500.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Green. Front (vertical): Spanish text; leaves; paw print as registration device; jaguar; flowers; silhouette of jaguar with latent image RA; denomination in green-to-blue SPARK. Back: Spanish text; paw prints; jaguar cub and adult in stream running through forest; map of Argentina with Northeast region highlighted; compass rose; flowers; coat of arms. 4-mm wide green-to-blue RollingStar Cube windowed security thread with demetalized $500 BCRA. Watermark: Jaguar head and electrotype 500. Printer: S.E. CASA DE MONEDA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 1,000.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Yellow. Front (vertical): Spanish text; bird clawprint as registration device; Rufous hornero (national bird); flowers; bird and nest perched on branch. Back: Spanish text; hornero chick; Pampean plain, hornero habitat; map of Argentine Sea, Antarctica, and South Atlantic Islands; clawprint; compass rose; coat of arms. Motion windowed security thread with flower and 1000. Solid security thread with demetalized $1000 BCRA.Watermark: Hornero and electrotype 1000. Printer: S.E. CASA DE MONEDA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

2012 – 2017 Commemorative Issues

On 21 September 2012, the Banco Central de la República Argentina began issuing 20 million commemorative 100-peso notes bearing the face of Eva “Evita” Perón to mark the 60th anniversary of her death. After the death of Eva Perón in 1952, both the central bank and the banknote printer, SE Casa de Moneda (CMA), started work immediately to replace the Liberty effigy in the existing 5-peso note with a portrait of Eva, but this idea was rejected by the authorities. It was then that CMA artist Renato Garrasi created a new sepia-tinted design that had Eva’s portrait on one side, with the intention of paying homage to her extensive social work for the poor.
However, in 1955 President Juan Perón was ousted in a military coup, and the subsequent regime led by Pedro Eugenio Aramburu set about eliminating all signs of Perónism, including the destruction of any images associated with Juan and Eva Perón. To avoid the loss of the banknote designs, a CMA employee hid them, and they remained hidden, and forgotten, for the next five and a half decades.
It was only in 2006–with the removal of furniture as part of a refurbishment of the design department–that the original sepia-tinted artwork, hand-painted by Garrasi, came to light. It was this artwork that provided the inspiration for the new note and, after extensive research undertaken by personnel from CDM, the concept for the 21st century version was unveiled to the nation on 25 July 2012 by HE President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, one day before the 60th anniversary of Eva Perón’s death, and was issued two months later, in September.
The brightly-colored commemorative note features intaglio printing, a watermark, an optically variable feature and a thread, and was created by the Swiss banknote designer Roger Pfund together with designers from CMA. The portrait was engraved by Sergio Pilosio, an Argentine citizen living in Switzerland. It was the first time a new design had been introduced in Argentina for 20 years, and the first Argentinean banknote to feature a woman.
Although originally designed as a commemorative banknote, in January 2013 President Kirchner announced that it is to become the new 100-peso circulating note, replacing the current note carrying the portrait of the 19th century president Julio Argentino Roca.
The circulating version features the numeral 100 in SPARK with a green-to-blue color shift and rolling-bar effect, registration device, watermark, and 5-mm wide Picture Thread with Eva Perón’s image.
On 1 July 2013, the bank began issuing series B notes which are similar, but with several significant differences. On the front, the outlined red flowers have been moved right, from underneath the green SPARK feature; the tree branches and leaves have been redrawn; and the watermark is larger and the electrotype initials moved from left to right of the portrait. On the back, the vignette at left has been reengraved to reveal much more detail; and the vertical denomination numerals have shifted from center left to upper left.

Description: 100.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Violet, blue, and orange. Front: Spanish text; scales as registration device; denomination in SPARK; flowers; tree; flowers; María Eva Duarte de Perón; olive branch. Back: Spanish text; “Ara Pacis Augustae” (Altar of Augustan Peace) in Rome; flower; cornucopia; scales; coat of arms. Holographic windowed security thread with demetalized BCRA, $100, and Eva Perón. Watermark: Eva Perón and electrotype EP. Printer: S. E. CASA DE MONEDA.155 x 65 mm. Paper.
This note was honored as the Latin American Banknote of the Year 2013 by Reconnaissance International, organizers of the High Security Printing Conference.

Description: 100.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Description: 100.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

2002 – 2016 Issues

These notes are like the preceding issues, but without the clause CONVERTIBLES DE CURSO LEGAL printed vertically to the right of the pesos at center on front, indicating that they are no longer fully backed by U.S. dollars.

Description: 100.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Purple, brown, and orange. Front: Spanish text; steamship leaving port with smokestacks and buildings; 8th and 13th president, Julio Argentino Roca; Roca’s letter to Miguel Cané, ambassador to Austria. Back: Spanish text; flowers; Juan Manuel Blanes’ painting, “Conquista del Desierto” (Conquest of the Desert); sword, laurels, and document; coat of arms. Windowed security thread with demetalized BCRA $100. Watermark: Julio Argentino Roca and electrotype JAR. Printer: CASA DE MONEDA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

1997 – 2002 Issues

These notes are like the preceding issues, but with redesigned vignettes.

Description: 100.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Extras

According to an article in La NaciOn of Buenos Aires dated 11 November 2020, earlier this year the Banco Central de la Republica Argentina placed orders for 400 million 1,000-peso notes from the Casa de Moeda de Brasil in Rio de Janeiro and Casa de Moneda de Chile in Santiago, and 170 million notes from the Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre in Madrid to meet year-end demand for cash. Reportedly the bank had previously ordered 200 million 5,000-peso notes from the state printing company, Casa de Moneda, which had finished its design, defined its security measures, purchased the paper and inks, and established a delivery schedule beginning in June 2020. These plans were put on hold due to internal politics.

Out of Circulation Notes

2015 – 2016 Issues

Description: 5.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Green, light blue, violet, and yellow. Front: Spanish text; handshake as registration device; sunburst symbolizing Orden del Libertador (Order of the Liberator); branch with flowers; OVI patch of statue; José de San Martín in military uniform; OVI patch of standing soldier with boots, sword, and helmet. Back: Spanish text; José Artigas, Simón Bolívar, José de San Martín, and Bernardo O’Higgins; flags, flames, and presidential seal; coat of arms; handshake. No security thread. Watermark: José de San Martín and electrotype JSM. Printer: S.E. CASA DE MONEDA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 10.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Brown, green, blue, and purple. Front: Spanish text; sunburst as registration device; green-to-blue OVI flower; leaves on branches; OVI patch of solider with raised flag on horseback; Manuel Belgrano in military uniform; OVI patch of Pedrito Ríos, drummer boy of Tacuarí. Back: Spanish text; Juana Azurduy de Padilla and Manuel Belgrano on horseback with swords raised to new flag on 27 February 1812 along Paraná River; coat of arms; sunburst. Solid security thread with demetalized $10 BCRA. Watermark: Manuel Belgrano and electrotype MB. Printer: S.E. CASA DE MONEDA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

2015 Commemorative Issues

This 50-peso note commemorates the defense of national sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands (Falklands), South Georgia, and South Sandwich and the surrounding maritime spaces.

Description: 50.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Blue, green, pink, and yellow. Front: Spanish text; lighthouse as registration device; sun gold-to-green SPARK feature with denomination; plants; bird; maps of Malvinas Islands and South America. Back: Spanish text; Antonio “El Gaucho” Rivero holding Argentine flag atop rearing horse; graveyard with crosses and flowers; modern warship, ARA General Belgrano; coat of arms; lighthouse. Holographic windowed security thread with demetalized BCRA $50 and Malvinas Islands. Watermark: Malvinas Islands and electrotype IM. Printer: S.E. CASA DE MONEDA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

2002 – 2016 Issues

Description: 2.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Blue, red, and orange. Front: Spanish text; wrought iron gate of Mitre’s house; handwritten manuscript of Historia de Belgrano y de la Independencia Argentina; 6th president, Bartolomé Mitre. Back: Spanish text; olive branches; Museo Mitre (Mitre Museum) building in Buenos Aires; BM monogram; coat of arms. No security thread. Watermark: Bartolomé Mitre and electrotype BM. Printer: CASA DE MONEDA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 5.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Green, purple,and yellow. Front: Spanish text; Pedro Subercaseaux’s painting, “Abrazo de Maipú,” depicting San Martín hugging Bernardo O’Higgins on horseback; José de San Martín wearing military uniform; San Martín’s will. Back: Spanish text; memorial monument to the Army of the Andes on Cerro de la Gloria (Glory Hill) in Mendoza; Order of the Liberator General San Martín medal; coat of arms. No security thread. Watermark: José de San Martín and and electrotype JSM. Printer: CASA DE MONEDA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 10.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Brown, green, and yellow. Front: Spanish text; Alfredo Bigatti’s sculpture, “La Patria Abanderada” at Monumento a la Bandera; Manuel Belgrano; Belgrano’ 1812 report to the government of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata. Back: Spanish text; Monumento a la Bandera (Monument of the Flag) in Rosario; drum and laurels representing drummer boy Pedro Ríos who died at the Battle of Tacuarí; coat of arms. Solid security thread with demetalized BCRA $10. Watermark: Manuel Belgrano and electrotype MB. Printer: CASA DE MONEDA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 20.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Red, violet, and yellow. Front: Spanish text; Prilidiano Pueyrredón’s painting, “Retrato de Manuelita Rosas;” Juan Manuel de Rosas wearing military uniform; unknown manuscript. Back: Spanish text; ships on Paraná river in Combate de la Vuelta de Obligado (Battle of Vuelta de Obligado; military trophies; coat of arms. Solid security thread with demetalized BCRA $20. Watermark: Juan Manuel de Rosas and electrotype JMR. Printer: CASA DE MONEDA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 50.00 ARS – Argentinian Pesos Size: 155 x 65 mm

Black, violet, green, blue, and yellow. Front: Spanish text; unknown scene with crowd of people; 7th president, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento; manuscript of Vida de Dominguito, biography of his adopted son who died at the Battle of Curupayty; fountain pen as registration device. Back: Spanish text; fountain pen; La Porteña locomotive; trees, pyramid, flag, and Casa De Gobierno (Governor’s House) building on Plaza de Mayo (May Square) in Buenos Aires; sailing ship and European immigrants; El Progresso scroll with quill and inkwell; coat of arms. Windowed security thread with demetalized BCRA $50. Watermark: Domingo Faustino Sarmiento and electrotype DFS. Printer: CASA DE MONEDA. 155 x 65 mm. Paper.