UYU – Uruguayan Peso

Monetary System

23.06.1862: 1 uruguayan peso (UYP) = 100 centésimos
01.07.1975: 1 nuevo peso (UYN) = 1,000 pesos
01.03.1993: 1 peso uruguayo (UYU) = 1,000 nuevos pesos

Currency Issuer

Banco Central del Uruguay (BCU).

Central Bank of Uruguay
Banco Central del Uruguay

The Banco Central del Uruguay (Spanish: Central Bank of Uruguay, BCU) was created by law 13594 of 6 July 1967 and decree on 12 September 1967. For more information, visit www.bcu.gub.uy.

2020 – 2021 Polymer Issues

These notes are like preceding issues, but printed on polymer substrate, and with denominations graduating in size. The polymer notes will circulate in parallel with the preceding paper issues.

Description: 20.00 UYU – Uruguayan New Peso Size: 138 x 66 mm

Green, purple, and red. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; coat of arms; laurels, ink well, quill, and scroll as registration device; Juan Zorrilla de San Martín; denomination as latent image on map of Uruguay. Back: Spanish text; Alegoria de la Leyenda Patria (allegory of The Patriot Legend) consisting of a flying bare-breasted angel; laurels, ink well, quill, and scroll as registration device. No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: OBERTHUR fiduciaire. 138 x 66 mm. Polymer.

Description: 50.00 UYU – Uruguayan New Peso Size: 144 x 68 mm

Red, blue, green, and orange. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; coat of arms; laurels, open book, and rising sun as registration device; José Pedro Varela; denomination as latent image on map of Uruguay. Back: Spanish text; Monumento a José Pedro Varela in Montevideo; laurels, ink well, quill, and scroll as registration device. No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: OBERTHUR fiduciaire. 144 x 68 mm. Polymer.

2017 Commemorative Issues

On 3 May 2017, a resolution authorized the Banco Central del Uruguay to introduce up to 10 million new 50-peso uruguayo polymer notes to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the bank. When these notes were introduced on 14 September 2018, the bank indicated that it intends to use polymer substrate for other lower denominations in the future, with the physical size of the notes increasing according to their denominations.

Description: 50.00 UYU – Uruguayan New Peso Size: 145 x 68 mm

Blue, green, and orange. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; coat of arms; laurels, BCU 50th anniversary starburst. Back: Spanish text; “Construcción Portuaria” (port construction) mural by painter Walter Deliotti. No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: (Oberthur). 145 x 68 mm. Polymer (Guardian).

2014 – 2018 Issues

These notes are like preceding issues, but with new series, new dates, new signatures, new printer imprints, and several significant changes to the security features, including denomination as registration device; holographic windowed security thread; translucent features; map of Uruguay with latent image, OVI, or SPARK; iridescent stripes; and intaglio marks for the sight impaired.

Description: 20.00 UYU – Uruguayan New Peso Size: 159 x 74 mm

Green, purple, and red. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; coat of arms; laurels, ink well, quill, and scroll as registration device; Juan Zorrilla de San Martín; denomination as latent image on map of Uruguay. Back: Spanish text; Alegoria de la Leyenda Patria (allegory of The Patriot Legend) consisting of a flying bare-breasted angel; laurels, ink well, quill, and scroll as registration device. No security thread. Watermark: Eletrotype 20 / Veinte and 20 stacked three times. Printer: OBERTHUR fiduciaire. 159 x 74 mm. Paper.

Description: 50.00 UYU – Uruguayan New Peso Size: 159 x 74 mm

Red, blue, green, and orange. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; coat of arms; laurels, open book, and rising sun as registration device; José Pedro Varela; denomination as latent image on map of Uruguay. Back: Spanish text; Monumento a José Pedro Varela in Montevideo; laurels, ink well, quill, and scroll as registration device. No security thread. Watermark: Eletrotype 50 / Cincuenta and 50 stacked three times. Printer: OBERTHUR fiduciaire. 159 x 74 mm. Paper.

Description: 100.00 UYU – Uruguayan New Peso Size: 159 x 74 mm

Purple, orange, green, and brown. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; coat of arms; laurels, sheet music, harp, and horn as registration device; Eduardo Fabini; map of Uruguay in green OVI. Back: Spanish text; Alegoria Musical (musical allegory) consisting of seated nude male playing pan flute; laurels, sheet music, harp, and horn. Windowed security thread with demetalized URUGUAY. Watermark: Eduardo Fabini and electrotype Ciens and 100 stacked three times. Printer: CASA DE MONEDA DE CHILE. 159 x 74 mm. Paper.

Description: 200.00 UYU – Uruguayan New Peso Size: 159 x 74 mm

Brown, purple, green, and orange. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; coat of arms; laurels, scroll, and artist’s palette as registration device; Pedro Figari; map of Uruguay in green OVI. Back: Spanish text; Baile Antiguo (Old Dance), consisting of women and men in ballroom with chandeliers; laurels, scroll, and artist’s palette. Windowed security thread with demetalized URUGUAY. Watermark: Pedro Figari and electrotype Doscientos and 200 stacked three times. Printer: CASA DE MONEDA DE CHILE. 159 x 74 mm. Paper.

Description: 500.00 UYU – Uruguayan New Peso Size: 159 x 74 mm

Blue, purple, red, and green. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; coat of arms; laurels, open book, and rising sun as registration device; Alfredo Vásquez Acevedo; map of Uruguay in green SPARK. Back: Spanish text; Universidad de la República (University of the Republic) building in Montevideo; laurels, open book, and rising sun. 4-mm wide holographic windowed security thread with demetalized BCU 500. Watermark: Alfredo Vásquez Acevedo and electrotype Quinientos and 500 stacked three times. Printer: OBERTHUR fiduciare. 159 x 74 mm. Paper.

Description: 1,000.00 UYU – Uruguayan New Peso Size: 159 x 74 mm

Green, grown, pink, and blue. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; coat of arms; laurels and vase as registration device; Juana de Ibarbourou; map of Uruguay in gold OVI. Back: Spanish text; eight books (Chico Carlo, Raiz salvaje, El Cantaro Fresco, Perdida, Las Lenguas de diamante, Loores de Nuestra Señora, Estampas de la Biblia, and La rosa de los vientos); La Palma de Juana palm tree monument in Montevideo; laurels and vase. 4-mm wide holographic windowed security thread with demetalized BCU 1000. Watermark: Juana de Ibarbourou and electrotype Mil and 1000 stacked three times. Printer: OBERTHUR fiduciare. 159 x 74 mm. Paper.

Description: 2,000.00 UYU – Uruguayan New Peso Size: 159 x 74 mm

Black, yellow, purple, and blue. Front: Spanish text; denomination as registration device; coat of arms; laurels, buff-necked ibis (Theristicus caudatus) bird, and microscope; Dámaso Antonio Larrañaga; map of Uruguay in purple SPARK. Back: Spanish text; Biblioteca Nacional 26 de Mayo de 1816 (National Library 26 May 1816); laurels, buff-necked ibis (Theristicus caudatus) bird, and microscope. 4-mm wide holographic windowed security thread with demetalized BCU 2000. Watermark: Dámaso Antonio Larrañaga and electrotype Dos Mil and 2000 stacked three times. Printer: OBERTHUR fiduciare. 159 x 74 mm. Paper.

1998 – 2011 Issues

Over the course of more than a decade, several different printers produced the various denominations with changes to the dates, signatures, imprints, security features, and screen traps, although the basic designs remained the same across the series.

Description: 20.00 UYU – Uruguayan New Peso Size: 159 x 74 mm

Green, purple, and red. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; laurels, ink well, quill, and scroll as registration device; Juan Zorrilla de San Martín. Back: Spanish text; Alegoria de la Leyenda Patria (allegory of The Patriot Legend) consisting of a flying bare-breasted angel; laurels, ink well, quill, and scroll as registration device. Security thread varieties. Watermark: Varieties. Printer: Varieties. 159 x 74 mm. Paper.

Description: 50.00 UYU – Uruguayan New Peso Size: 159 x 74 mm

Red, blue, green, and orange. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; laurels, open book, and rising sun as registration device; José Pedro Varela. Back: Spanish text; Monumento a José Pedro Varela in Montevideo; laurels, ink well, quill, and scroll as registration device. Security thread varieties. Watermark: Varieties. Printer: Varieties. 159 x 74 mm. Paper

Description: 100.00 UYU – Uruguayan New Peso Size: 159 x 74 mm

Purple, orange, green, and brown. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; laurels, sheet music, harp, and horn as registration device; Eduardo Fabini. Back: Spanish text; Alegoria Musical (musical allegory) consisting of seated nude male playing pan flute; laurels, sheet music, harp, and horn. Security thread varieties. Watermark: Varieties. Printer: Varieties. 159 x 74 mm. Paper.

Description: 200.00 UYU – Uruguayan New Peso Size: 159 x 74 mm

Brown, purple, green, and orange. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; laurels, scroll, and artist’s palette as registration device; Pedro Figari. Back: Spanish text; Baile Antiguo (Old Dance), consisting of women and men in ballroom with chandeliers; laurels, scroll, and artist’s palette. Security thread varieties. Watermark: Varieties. Printer: Varieties. 159 x 74 mm. Paper.

Description: 500.00 UYU – Uruguayan New Peso Size: 159 x 74 mm

Blue, purple, red, and green. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; laurels, open book, and rising sun as registration device; Alfredo Vásquez Acevedo. Back: Spanish text; Universidad de la República (University of the Republic) building in Montevideo; laurels, open book, and rising sun. 1-mm wide windowed security thread with demetalized URUGUAY. Watermark: Varieties. Printer: Varieties. 159 x 74 mm. Paper.

Description: 1,000.00 UYU – Uruguayan New Peso Size: 159 x 74 mm

Green, grown, pink, and blue. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; laurels and vase as registration device; Juana de Ibarbourou. Back: Spanish text; eight books (Chico Carlo, Raiz salvaje, El Cantaro Fresco, Perdida, Las Lenguas de diamante, Loores de Nuestra Señora, Estampas de la Biblia, and La rosa de los vientos); La Palma de Juana palm tree monument in Montevideo; laurels and vase. Security thread varieties. Watermark: Varieties. Printer: Varieties. 159 x 74 mm. Paper.

Description: 2,000.00 UYU – Uruguayan New Peso Size: 159 x 74 mm

Black, yellow, purple, and blue. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; laurels, buff-necked ibis (Theristicus caudatus) bird, and microscope as registration device; Dámaso Antonio Larrañaga. Back: Spanish text; Biblioteca Nacional 26 de Mayo de 1816 (National Library 26 May 1816); laurels, buff-necked ibis (Theristicus caudatus) bird, and microscope. Holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized URUGUAY. Watermark: José Gervasio Artigas and electrotype Artigas. Printer: Giesecke & Devrient. 159 x 74 mm. Paper.

Description: 5,000.00 UYU – Uruguayan New Peso Size: 159 x 74 mm

Blue, yellow, green, and red. Front: Spanish text; coat of arms; laurels, flag; Brigadier General Fructuoso Rivera. Back: Spanish text; Casa de Rivera Museo Histórico Nacional (National Historic Fructuoso Rivera House Museum) in Montevideo; national seal of 1830; laurels. Holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized URUGUAY. Watermark: Fructuoso Rivera and electrotype Artigas. Printer: (Unknown). 159 x 74 mm. Paper.

Museum

The Banco Central del Uruguay maintains a free numismatic museum on the mezzanine of its headquarters in Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo.