WE WILL BE CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24 th IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDENIO – Nicaraguan Cordoba
Monetary System
1824: 1 gold escudo = 16 Central American Republic reales
1878: 1 Nicaraguan peso = 100 centavos
20.03.1912: 1 Nicaraguan córdoba = 100 centavos
15.02.1988: 1 Nicaraguan córdoba (NIC) = 100 centavos
30.04.1991: 1 Nicaraguan córdoba (NIO) = 100 centavos
In 1824, the Central American Republic real replaced the Spanish colonial real at par. Even after the constituent states became independent, the Central American Republic real continued to circulate and be issued until eventually replaced by the Costa Rican real, Guatemalan peso, Honduran real, Nicaraguan peso, and Salvadoran peso.
The Nicaraguan peso was the currency of Nicaragua between 1878 and 1912. It was Nicaragua’s first national currency, replacing the Central American Republic real. The peso was subdivided into 100 centavos and was worth 8 reales when introduced, and had the same weight and mass as the peso fuerte.
2020 Commemorative Issues
This 5-cbrdoba note was issued to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Banco Central de Nicaragua.
Description: 5.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 126 x 67 mm
Gray. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; Banco Central de Nicaragua buildings. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; Paso a Nivel Desvivel Las Piedrecitas freeway overpass. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark: BCN. Printer: (Unknown). 126 x 67 mm. Polymer.
2017 (2019) Issues
Description: 500.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 156 x 67 mm
Red. Front: Spanish text; floral leaves; Catedral de León (Cathedral of León); spiral in green SPARK Orbital. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; Volcán Momotombo (Momotombo stratovolcano near León); floral leaves. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark: 500. Printer: (Unknown). 156 x 67 mm. Polymer.
Description: 1,000.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 156 x 67 mm
Green. Front: Spanish text; tree and leaves as registration device; adobe farm house with tiled roof on site of National War battle in 1856 (Casa Hacienda San Jacinto in Managua); spiral in green SPARK Orbital. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; Fortress of the Immaculate Conception on southern bank of the San Juan River in El Castillo (El Castillo de la Inmaculada Concepción, Río San Juan); tree and leaves. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark: 1000. Printer: (Unknown). 156 x 67 mm. Polymer.
2014 – 2015 (2016 – 2017) Issues
According to a press release, these new 1,000-córdoba notes were issued to ease high-value transactions. A commemorative design was introduced 1 December 2016 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of poet Rubén Darío, and a regular issue was introduced 2 January 2017.
Description: 1,000.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 161 x 67 mm
Green. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; denomination as registration device; verse from poem, Pax (Peace); daisy flowers; parchment, ink well, and quill in green SPARK; modernismo poet, Rubén Darío. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; verse from poem, Pax (Peace); dove bird in flight. Pearlescent stripe with 1000 on back. Motion windowed security thread with demetalized tree. Watermark: Arbutus (Arbutus unedo) tree and electrotype 1000. Printer: (De La Rue). 161 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 1,000.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 161 x 67 mm
Green. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; adobe farm house with tiled roof on site of National War battle in 1856 (Casa Hacienda San Jacinto in Managua); coat of arms. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; Fortress of the Immaculate Conception on southern bank of the San Juan River in El Castillo (El Castillo de la Inmaculada Concepción, Río San Juan). Pearlescent stripe with 1000 on back. Motion windowed security thread with demetalized tree. Watermark: Arbutus (Arbutus unedo) tree and electrotype 1000. Printer: (De La Rue). 161 x 67 mm. Paper.
2014 (2015) Issues
On 26 October 2015, the Banco Central de Nicaragua introduced its new note family. All of the denominations are printed on polymer substrate, except for the 500-córdoba note which is printed on cotton paper substrate. Existing notes continue to circulate in parallel but will be withdrawn as they deteriorate.
Description: 10.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 131 x 67 mm
Green. Front: Spanish text; two coconut palm trees; city buildings and boats docked at Puerto Salvador Allende (Salvador Allende port) in Managua. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; La Vaquita dancer; two coconut palm trees. Simulated security thread. Watermark: 10. Printer: (Oberthur). 131 x 67 mm. Polymer.
Description: 20.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 136 x 67 mm
Orange. Front: Spanish text; two turtles; Iglesia Morava (Moravian church) in Laguna de Perlas. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; female dancers celebrating Festival Mayo Ya (Maypole festival); two turtles. Simulated security thread. Watermark: 20. Printer: (Oberthur). 136 x 67 mm. Polymer.
Description: 50.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 141 x 67 mm
Purple. Front: Spanish text; two xylophones; palm trees, flag, and entrance to Mercado de Artesanías (craft market) building in Masaya. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; ballet folclórico (folkloric ballet) dancers; two xylophones. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark: 50. Printer: (Oberthur). 141 x 67 mm. Polymer.
Description: 100.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 146 x 67 mm
lue. Front: Spanish text; two drums; Catedral de Granada (Cathedral of Granada). Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; Coche de Caballos (horse-drawn carriage); two drums. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark: 100. Printer: (Oberthur). 146 x 67 mm. Polymer.
Description: 200.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 146 x 67 mm
Brown. Front: Spanish text; Turquoise-browed Motmot (guardabarranco) bird; Teatro Nacional Rubén Darío (Rubén Darío National Theatre) building in Managua. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; Comedia bailete El Güegüense (native dancers performing satirical drama); guardabarranco bird. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark: 200. Printer: (Oberthur). 151 x 67 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
This is the world’s first circulating note to use Latitude (on the bird at left front), a substrate-integrated diffractive optically variable device (DOVD) with silver nanoparticles.This note was honored with the Regional Banknote of the Year award by Reconnaissance International during their Latin American High Security Printing Conference 2016. Replacement notes: Prefix R.
Description: 500.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 156 x 67 mm
Red. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; Catedral de León (Cathedral of León); hexagon in green SPARK Orbital. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; Volcán Momotombo (Momotombo stratovolcano near León). Pearlescent stripe with 500on back. Color-changing windowed security thread with demetalized flower and BCN. Watermark: National flower, Plumeria alba/frangipani (Sacuanjoche-Flor Nacional) and electrotype 500. Printer: (De La Rue). 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
2007 (2012) Issues
This note is like the preceding issues, but the bank logo is a hologram, not OVI, and it has a wider security thread with different demetalized text pattern.
Description: 500.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 156 x 67 mm
Red and yellow. Front: Spanish text; birthplace of General Augusto César Sandino in Niquinohomo (casa natal de Sandino); holographic bank logo. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; crude line art; indigenous statues (estatuaria indígena). Windowed security thread with demetalized 500 BCN. Watermark: Augusto César Sandino and electrotype 500. Printer: (De La Rue). 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
2007 (2012) Commemorative Issues
This 100-córdoba note was issued to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the córdoba. It is like the preceding issues, but with wider thread, revised registration device, repositioned serial number, subtle underprint design changes, and 1912-2012 Centenario del Córdoba in almost invisible pearlescent ink at left front.
Description: 100.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 146 x 67 mm
Blue and violet. Front: Spanish text; Monument to Rubén Darío in Plaza de la República, Managua (monumento a Rubén Darío); bank logo on silver patch. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; cathedral of Leon (Catedral de León). Windowed security thread with demetalized BCN 100. Watermark: Tomb of Rubén Darío in the Cathedral of Leon, electrotype 100, and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 146 x 67 mm. Paper.
2009 (2010) Commemorative Issues
This 50-córdoba note with prefix BCN was issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Banco Central de Nicaragua.
Description: 50.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 141 x 67 mm
Purple. Front: Spanish text; bank logo; bank’s first headquarters building in Managua; national flower, Plumeria alba/frangipani (sacuanjoche). Back: Spanish text; river and trees in Somoto Canyon (Cañón de Somoto). No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 141 x 67 mm. Polymer.
2007 Issues
These notes were issued by a bank resolution of 12 September 2007. The 10-, 20-, and 200-córdoba notes are now printed on polymer, whereas the 50-, 100-, and 500-córdoba notes remain printed on paper. All denominations now use a fractional prefix with numerator A, and a vertical serial number in black at left front with a horizontal novel serial number in red at upper center front (upper right front for 500-córdoba).
Description: 10.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 131 x 67 mm
Green and light blue. Front: Spanish text; Fortress of the Immaculate Conception on southern bank of the San Juan River in El Castillo (Castillo Inmaculada Concepción). Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; adobe farm house with tiled roof on site of National War battle in 1856 (Casa Hacienda San Jacinto in Managua). Simulated security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 131 x 67 mm. Polymer.
Description: 20.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 136 x 67 mm
Yellow and brown. Front: Spanish text; girl pounding grain; typical house on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; five women dancing around maypole (palo de Mayo). Simulated security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 136 x 67 mm. Polymer.
Description: 50.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 136 x 67 mm
Purple and green. Front: Spanish text; four ceramic vases in a bowl (cerámica nacional); bank logo on silver patch. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; Somoto Canyon with river and trees (Cañón de Somoto). Windowed security thread with demetalized 50 BCN. Watermark: Pottery and electrotype 50. Printer: (De La Rue). 140 x 66 mm. Paper.
Description: 100.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 146 x 67 mm
Blue and violet. Front: Spanish text; Monument to Rubén Darío in Plaza de la República, Managua (monumento a Rubén Darío); bank logo on silver patch. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; cathedral of Leon (Catedral de León). Windowed security thread with demetalized BCN 100. Watermark: Tomb of Rubén Darío in the Cathedral of Leon, electrotype 100, and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 146 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 200.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 151 x 67 mm
Brown, green, and yellow. Front: Spanish text; folk dancers with masks (bailes Folklóricos); horse head. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; turquoise-browed Motmot (guardabarranco) bird; Isla de Ometepe with mountains and clouds. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 151 x 67 mm. Polymer.
Description: 500.00 NIO – Nicaragua Cordoba Size: 156 x 67 mm
Red and yellow. Front: Spanish text; birthplace of General Augusto César Sandino in Niquinohomo (casa natal de Sandino); bank logo in OVI. Back: Spanish text; coat of arms; crude line art; indigenous statues (estatuaria indígena). Windowed security thread with demetalized 500 BCN. Watermark: Augusto César Sandino and electrotype 500. Printer: (De La Rue). 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Central Bank of Nicaragua
Banco Central de Nicaragua
Banco Central de Nicaragua (Spanish: Central Bank of Nicaragua, BCN) was established by Legislative Decree No. 525 of 16 September 1960 and began operation on 1 January 1961.For more information, visit www.bcn.gob.ni.
Nicaragua
In 1502, explorer Christopher Columbus became the first European known to have reached what is now Nicaragua, the largest country in Central America. In 1524, conquistador Francisco Hernández de Córdoba founded the first permanent Spanish settlement at Granada on Lake Nicaragua. In September 1821, after the dissolution of the Captaincy General of Guatemala (an administrative division of the Spanish Empire including present-day Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Mexican state of Chiapas), Nicaragua briefly became part of the First Mexican Empire, before joining the newly formed United Provinces of Central America (renamed the Federal Republic of Central America) in 1823. Nicaragua finally became an independent republic in 1838.
