The lempiras is the currency of Honduras. It is subdivided into 100 centavos. The lempira was named after the 16th-century cacique Lempira, a ruler of the indigenous Lenca people, who is renowned in Honduran folklore for leading the (ultimately unsuccessful) local native resistance against the Spanish conquistador forces. He is a national hero, and is honoured on both the 1 lempira note and the 20 and 50 centavos coins.

Summary info

Summary information about Honduran lempira

ISO 4217 Code:

HNL

Currency sign:

L

Country:

Honduras

Subunit:

centavo

Coins:

10 centavos, 20 centavos, 50 centavos

Banknotes:

1 lempira, 2 lempiras, 5 lempiras, 10 lempiras, 20 lempiras, 50 lempiras, 100 lempiras, 500 lempiras

Central bank:

Central Bank of Honduras

History

Christopher Columbus landed at Cape Honduras in 1502 and claimed Central America for Spain. Honduras was made part of the Captaincy-General of Guatemala within the Vice-Royalty of New Spain in 1539 and remained part of the Captaincy-General until gaining its independence on September 21, 1821. Guatemala was part of Mexico from 1821 until 1823 when it became a constituent state of the Central American Federation. Honduras was originally divided into the Provinces of Comayagua and Tegucigalpa, which were joined to create Honduras on September 18, 1824. Honduras became a separate country on October 26, 1838.

Spanish Escudo (XESE) silver coins were used in Honduras while it was part of the Vice-Royalty of New Spain. Some crudely stuck 8 reales coins were minted in Tegucigalpa in 1813. The Central American Escudo/Peso (XCAE) was used while El Salvador was part of the Central American Federation. The Escudo was divisible into 2 Pesos or 16 Reales. Some coins were minted for the Federation in Tegucigalpa between 1830 and 1832. After gaining its independence, Honduras issued the Peso de Plata (HNP), at par with the Central American Peso, later linking the Peso to the French Franc in 1870 with 1 Peso equal to 5 French Francs.

The first Honduran coins were minted in 1832. Honduras introduced decimalization in 1881 with 1 Peso = 100 Centavos. In 1918, the exchange rate was adjusted to 2 Pesos to the US Dollar. The Lempira (HNL) was chosen as the name for the new currency (Morazon had also been considered) by Decree 102 on April 3, 1926. The Lempira replaced the Peso de Plata at par with 1 US Dollar equal to 2 Lempiras. The lempira was introduced in 1931, replacing the peso at par.

The Lempira and Peso are divisible into 100 Centavos. Several private banks issued banknotes. The Banco Central de Honduras was founded on February 3, 1950, and on July 1, 1950, the Banco Central de Honduras took over the right of banknote issue from the Banco de Honduras and the Banco Atlantida.

In the late 1980s, the exchange rate was two lempiras to the U.S. dollar (the 20 centavos coin is called a daime as it was worth the same as a U.S. dime). As of May 5th, 2011, the lempira was quoted at 18.920 HNL to 1 USD. U.S. dollars are widely accepted as currency on the Bay Islands, but the mainland mainly deals in Lempiras. Businesses in major tourist centers on the mainland will also generally accept dollars.

Coins

In 1931, coins were introduced in denominations of 5, 20 & 50 centavos & 1 lempira. 1, 2 & 10 centavos coins were added in 1935, 1939 & 1932 respectively. The silver 1 lempira coins ceased production in 1937, with the other silver coins (20 & 50 centavos) replaced by cupro-nickel in 1967.

Banknotes

The Bank of Honduras and the Banco Atlantida issued the first lempira banknotes in 1932. They were in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 lempiras. The Central Bank of Honduras took over production of paper money in 1950, introducing 50 lempiras notes in 1951. In 1975, 100 lempiras notes were added, followed by 500 lempiras in 1995.

In January, 2010, a new 20 Lempira note was introduced to market made by a polymer base, 60 million notes were issued.

HNL banknotes pictures gallery

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Useful links

About Central Bank of Honduras:

Central Bank of Honduras

List of currencies:

Currencies

Security and design features of HNL banknotes:

HNL banknotes

HNL currency on Wikipedia:

Honduran lempira

Official Website of Central Bank of Honduras:

www.bch.hn

Commemorative coins:

Commemorative Coins