HNL – Honduran Lempira
Monetary System
1862: 1 Honduran peso = 8 reales
1871: 1 Honduran peso = 100 centavos
1931: 1 Honduran lempira (HNL) = 1 peso = 100 centavos
Central Bank of Honduras
Banco Central de Honduras
The Banco Central de Honduras (Central Bank of Honduras, BCH) was created in February 1950 by a legislative decree and began operation on 1 July 1950. For more information, visit www.bch.hn.
For a given date, the signatories are always the same even if the signatures are slightly different on different denominations.
2024 Issues
Description: 100.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Brown, green, and yellow. Front: Spanish text; denomination in gold-to-green SPARK; 100 BCH as registration device; Jose Cecilio Diaz del Valle; Rio Choluteca suspension bridge in Choluteca. Back: Spanish text; house with colonnade in Choluteca where Jose Cecilio Diaz del Valle was born (casa donde nacio del sabio Valle); 100 BCH as registration device; seal of Banco Central de Honduras. Green windowed security thread with demetalized BCH. Watermark: Jose Cecilio Diaz del Valle and electrotype BCH. Printer: (Crane Currency). 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 500.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Purple, red, orange, and green. Front: Spanish text; denomination in green-to-blue SPARK; 500 BCH as registration device; Ramon Rosa; La Merced church. Back: Spanish text; mining buildings at Rosary of San Juancito (mina del Rosario de San Juancito, 1893); 500 BCH as registration device; seal of Banco Central de Honduras. Violet windowed security thread with demetalized BCH. Watermark: Ramon Rosa and electrotype BCH. Printer: (Crane Currency). 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
2021 Commemorative Issues
These note promotes education, environmental conservation, and commemorates the bicentennial of independence of Honduras (1821-2021). 30 million notes will be introduced into circulation in September 2021, with an additional 20 million notes issued in 2022.
Description: 200.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Yellow, green, gray, red, and blue. Front Spanish text; denomination in SPARK; faint outline of bell; denomination as registration device; children with flag standing on open book; Casa de Gobierno de la Provincia de Honduras (Government House in Comayag0e) circa 1821. Back: Spanish text; two Guara Roja (guacamaya birds) flying over the Biosfera del Rio Platano (Platano River biosphere); coat of arms. Green-to-blue windowed security thread with demetalized bell, declaration of independence with quill, 200, and BCH. Watermark: Declaration of independence with quill, and electrotype BCH. Printer: G+D Currency Technology. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
This note was honored as the Best New Commemorative Banknote at the High Security Printing conference in 2022.
2012 – 2016 Issues
These notes are like the preceding issues, but now include embossed Braille dots and high-relief vertical bars at top and bottom center, both intended to help the sight impaired identify the different denominations by feel. These notes have prefixes that resume where the preceding issues end. New date and signature varieties have prefixes that resume where the preceding varieties end.
Description: 1.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Red and green. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; Lempira wearing headband. Back: Spanish text; ruins of ball court and stairs at Copán (ruinas de Copan juego de pelota y escalinata); Mayan monolith. No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: Varieties. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 2.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Purple. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; Marco Aurelio Soto. Back: Spanish text; Tiger Island and port city of Amapala where Dr. Soto’s government was inaugurated (Isla del Tigre y ciudad puerto de Amapala en donde inauguro su gobierno el Dr. Soto). No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: Varieties. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 5.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Black, blue, purple, green, and orange. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; General Francisco Morazán. Back: Spanish text; Battle of Trinidad, 11 November 1827 (Batalla de la Trinidad Noviembre 11 de 1827). No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: Varieties. OBERTHUR fiduciaire. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 10.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Brown, red, orange, and yellow. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; José Trinidad Cabañas. Back: Spanish text; modern buildings, buses, and cars on campus of City University in Tegucigalpa (Ciudad Universitaria). No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: OBERTHUR fiduciaire. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 20.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Green, purple, orange, yellow, and light blue. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; Dionisio de Herrera. Back: Spanish text; old Presidential palace (Casa Presidencial) in Tegucigalpa in Tegucigalpa. Solid security thread with printed BCH 20. Watermark: None. Printer: Varieties. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 50.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Blue, orange, purple, and yellow. Front: Spanish text; Mayan glyph as registration device; Juan Manuel Gálvez Durón; headquarters of BANADESA (Banco Nacional de Desarrollo Agrícola). Back: Spanish text; headquarters building of central bank (edificio principal del Banco Central de Honduras); Mayan glyph. Solid security thread with printed BCH 50. Watermark: Juan Manuel Gálvez Durón and electrotype 50. Printer: OBERTHUR fiduciaire. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 50.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Blue, orange, purple, and yellow. Front: Spanish text; denomination and Mayan glyph as registration devices; Juan Manuel Gálvez Durón. Back: Spanish text; headquarters building of central bank (edificio del Banco Central de Honduras); Mayan glyph. Solid security thread with printed BCH 50. Watermark: Juan Manuel Gálvez Durón and electrotype 50. Printer: PWPW S.A. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Like preceding issues, but new building on back.
Description: 100.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Brown, green, and yellow. Front: Spanish text; Mayan glyph as registration device; José Cecilio Díaz del Valle; Rio Choluteca suspension bridge in Choluteca. Back: Spanish text; house with colonnade in Choluteca where José Cecilio Díaz del Valle was born (casa donde nacio del sabio Valle). Windowed security thread with demetalized BCH 100. Watermark: José Cecilio Díaz del Valle and electrotype BCH. Printer: OBERTHUR fiduciaire. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 100.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Brown, green, and yellow. Front: Spanish text; Mayan glyph as registration device; José Cecilio Díaz del Valle; Rio Choluteca suspension bridge in Choluteca. Back: Spanish text; house with colonnade in Choluteca where José Cecilio Díaz del Valle was born (casa donde nacio del sabio Valle). Windowed security thread with demetalized BCH 100. Watermark: José Cecilio Díaz del Valle and electrotype BCH. Printer: Crane AB. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Like preceding issues, but redesigned front with denomination in OVI.
Description: 100.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Purple, red, orange, and green. Front: Spanish text; mailbox (Correos de Honduras) as registration device; Ramón Rosa; La Merced church. Back: Spanish text; mining buildings at Rosary of San Juancito (mina del Rosario de San Juancito, 1893); mailbox. Windowed security thread with demetalized BCH 500. Watermark: Ramón Rosa and electrotype BCH. Printer: OBERTHUR fiduciaire. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 100.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Purple, red, orange, and green. Front: Spanish text; mailbox (Correos de Honduras) as registration device; Ramón Rosa; La Merced church. Back: Spanish text; mining buildings at Rosary of San Juancito (mina del Rosario de San Juancito, 1893); mailbox. Windowed security thread with demetalized BCH 500. Watermark: Ramón Rosa and electrotype BCH. Printer: OBERTHUR fiduciaire. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Like preceding issues, but redesigned front with denomination in OVI.
1994 – 2010 Issues
These notes have prefixes that resume where the preceding issues end. New date and signature varieties have prefixes that resume where the preceding varieties end.
Description: 20.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Green, yellow, and orange. Front: Spanish text; Mayan glyph as registration device; Dionisio de Herrera; new Presidential palace (Casa Presidencial) in Tegucigalpa. Back: Spanish text; sculpture by M. Zamora alluding to Herrera’s work, union, and effort (una nueva Honduras se levanta); Mayan glyph. Solid security thread with printed BANTRAL. Watermark: Dionisio de Herrera. Printer: FCOF. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
This note commemorates the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Banco Central de Honduras, the new millennium, and the reconstruction and transformation of Honduras.
Description: 20.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Green, purple, orange, yellow, and light blue. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; Dionisio de Herrera. Back: Spanish text; old Presidential palace (Casa Presidencial) in Tegucigalpa in Tegucigalpa. Security thread varieties. Watermark: Varieties. Printer: Varieties. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 20.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Green, purple, orange, and light blue. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; Dionisio de Herrera. Back: Spanish text; old Presidential palace (Casa Presidencial) in Tegucigalpa. No security thread. Watermark (shadow image): 20 pattern and BCH. Printer: (Unknown). 159 x 66 mm. Polymer.
Description: 50.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Blue, orange, purple, and yellow. Front: Spanish text; Mayan glyph as registration device; Juan Manuel Gálvez Durón; headquarters of BANADESA (Banco Nacional de Desarrollo Agrícola). Back: Spanish text; headquarters building of central bank (edificio principal del Banco Central de Honduras); Mayan glyph. Solid security thread with printed BANITRAL 50. Watermark: Juan Manuel Gálvez Durón and electrotype 50. Printer: Varieties. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 100.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Brown, green, and yellow. Front: Spanish text; Mayan glyph as registration device; José Cecilio Díaz del Valle; Rio Choluteca suspension bridge in Choluteca. Back: Spanish text; house with colonnade in Choluteca where José Cecilio Díaz del Valle was born (casa donde nacio del sabio Valle). Security thread varieties. Watermark: José Cecilio Díaz del Valle. Printer: (De La Rue). 156 x 67 mm. Paper. Designed by Mario Amaya Castillo.
Description: 500.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Purple, red, orange, and green. Front: Spanish text; mailbox (Correos de Honduras) as registration device; Ramón Rosa; La Merced church. Back: Spanish text; mining buildings at Rosary of San Juancito (mina del Rosario de San Juancito, 1893); mailbox. Security thread varieties. Watermark: Ramón Rosa. Printer: (De La Rue). 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Designed by Mario Amaya Castillo.
1993 – 2003 Issues
These notes feature vertical designs on back. These notes have prefixes that resume where the preceding issues end. New date and signature varieties have prefixes that resume where the preceding varieties end.
Description: 20.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Green, purple, orange, yellow, and light blue. Front: Spanish text; Dionisio de Herrera. Back (vertical): Spanish text; Presidential palace (Casa Presidencial). Solid security thread with printed BANTRAL. Watermark: Dionisio de Herrera. Printer: Varieties. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 50.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Blue, orange, purple, and green. Front: Spanish text; Juan Manuel Gálvez Durón. Back (vertical): Spanish text; modern building of central bank annex (Anexco Banco Central de Honduras). Solid security thread with printed BANTRAL. Watermark: Ceiba tree. Printer: THOMAS DE LA RUE AND COMPANY LIMITED. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 50.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Blue, orange, purple, and green. Front: Spanish text; Juan Manuel Gálvez Durón. Back (vertical): Spanish text; modern building of central bank annex (Anexco Banco Central de Honduras). Solid security thread with printed BANTRAL. Watermark: Ceiba tree. Printer: THOMAS DE LA RUE AND COMPANY LIMITED. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Like preceding issues, but vertical s/n, and block below that smaller to accommodate change in s/n.
1976 – 2010 Issues
These notes feature portraits at right front. These notes have prefixes that resume where the preceding issues end. New date and signature varieties have prefixes that resume where the preceding varieties end.
Description: 1.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Red and green. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; Lempira wearing headband. Back: Spanish text; ruins of ball court and stairs at Copán (ruinas de Copan juego de pelota y escalinata); Mayan monolith. Security thread varieties. Watermark: None. Printer: THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 1.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Red and green. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; Lempira wearing headband. Back: Spanish text; ruins of ball court and stairs at Copán (ruinas de Copan juego de pelota y escalinata); Mayan monolith. Solid security thread with printed BANTRAL. Watermark: None. Printer: CANADIAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, LIMITED. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Like preceding issues, but guilloches on front reengraved, and rectangular design at lower right back changed.
Description: 1.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Red and green. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; Lempira wearing headband. Back: Spanish text; ruins of ball court and stairs at Copán (ruinas de Copan juego de pelota y escalinata); Mayan monolith. No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: Varieties. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Like preceding issues, but changes to flowers near coat of arms. Microprinting in rectangle at lower right back changes with the change in printers.
Description: 1.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Red and green. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; Lempira wearing headband. Back: Spanish text; ruins of ball court and stairs at Copán (ruinas de Copan juego de pelota y escalinata); Mayan monolith. No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: Varieties. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Like preceding issues, but different guilloches at center front, different flowers in coat of arms, and latent image added to rectangle at lower right on back.Microprinting in rectangle at lower right back changes with the change in printers.
Description: 2.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Purple. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; Marco Aurelio Soto. Back: Spanish text; Tiger Island and port city of Amapala where Dr. Soto’s government was inaugurated (Isla del Tigre y ciudad puerto de Amapala en donde inauguro su gobierno el Dr. Soto). No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
This note commemorates the 100th anniversary of the founding of the government of Dr. Marco Aurelio Soto.
Description: 2.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Purple. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; Marco Aurelio Soto. Back: Spanish text; Tiger Island and port city of Amapala where Dr. Soto’s government was inaugurated (Isla del Tigre y ciudad puerto de Amapala en donde inauguro su gobierno el Dr. Soto). No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: Varieties. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Like preceding issues, but blue oval frame to right of coat of arms on front and tartan underprint on back.
Description: 5.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Black, blue, purple, green, and orange. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; General Francisco Morazán. Back: Spanish text; Battle of Trinidad, 11 November 1827 (Batalla de la Trinidad Noviembre 11 de 1827). Solid security thread with printed BANTRAL. Watermark: None. Printer: THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 5.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Black, blue, purple, green, and orange. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; General Francisco Morazán. Back: Spanish text; Battle of Trinidad, 11 November 1827 (Batalla de la Trinidad Noviembre 11 de 1827). Security thread varieties. Watermark: None. Printer: Varieties. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Like preceding issues, but different underprint.
Description: 10.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Brown, red, orange, and yellow. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; José Trinidad Cabañas. Back: Spanish text; modern buildings, buses, and cars on campus of City University in Tegucigalpa (Ciudad Universitaria). Solid security thread with printed BANTRAL. Watermark: None. Printer: THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 10.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Brown, red, orange, and yellow. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; José Trinidad Cabañas. Back: Spanish text; modern buildings, buses, and cars on campus of City University in Tegucigalpa (Ciudad Universitaria). Security thread varieties. Watermark: None. Printer: Varieties. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Like preceding issues, but different screen trap pattern and back now lithograph, not intaglio.
Description: 20.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Green. Front: Spanish text; Dionisio de Herrera. Back: Spanish text; ships, trains, warehouses, and shipping containers at the National Port Authority facilities in Puerto Cortés (Instalaciones Empresa Nacional Portuaria Puerto Cortes). No security thread. Watermark: Dionisio de Herrera. Printer: AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 100.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Brown, yellow, and green. Front: Spanish text; José Cecilio Díaz del Valle. Back: Spanish text; trees and buildings at the National School of Forestry in Siguatepeque (Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Forestales – Siguatepeque). No security thread. Watermark: José Cecilio Díaz del Valle. Printer: THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 100.00 HNL – Honduras Lempira Size: 156 x 67 mm
Brown, yellow, and green. Front: Spanish text; José Cecilio Díaz del Valle. Back: Spanish text; trees and buildings at the National School of Forestry in Siguatepeque (Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Forestales – Siguatepeque). No security thread. Watermark: José Cecilio Díaz del Valle. Printer: THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Like preceding issues, but different underprint.
