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5 unusual facts about Currency of Uruguay


Currency of Uruguay

Lacking the means to implement a national coinage, Gen. José Rondeau's provisional government permitted foreign silver and gold coin to circulate freely (law of 4 October 1828) at its intrinsic value, but it restricted and then prohibited the import of copper coin and the circulation of Buenos Aires bank notes (March 1829).

Its circulation outside the city of Montevideo was prohibited by the government of Gen. Manuel Oribe.

When war prevented the delivery of notes from Germany, Banco de la República contracted with the British firm of Waterlow & Sons, which printed notes for 1, 5, 10, 100, and 500 pesos, featuring a portrait of J.G. Artigas.

New denominations were introduced between 1983 and 1990 with a central design other than a portrait of J.G. Artigas (which had dominated note design since 1915).

Banco Central also began issuing a new series of notes of uniform size (155 × 69 mm), featuring a portrait of J.G. Artigas: 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000, and 10,000 pesos.



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