Exchange Currency
Paraguayan guarani
The guaraní (plural: guaraníes) is the national currency unit of Paraguay. The guaraní was divided into 100 céntimos but, because of inflation, céntimos are no longer in use.
Spanish Escudos were used in Paraguay while it was a Spanish colony. Most of the coins were minted in Potosi. The first Paraguayan coins were minted in 1845; however, issues of Paraguayan coins were infrequent in the nineteenth century since Paraguay relied on Argentinian and other coins for commerce.
The Argentine Peso (ARG) had full legal tender status in Paraguay until November 1943. The Paraguay Peso Fuerte (PYF) was set at par to the Argentine Peso throughout this period; however, Paraguay issued excessive amounts of banknotes, causing the paper Paraguay Peso (PYP) to depreciate relative to the Gold Peso.
The first depreciation occurred during the War of the Triple Alliance in which all the banknotes issued by Paraguay eventually became worthless. The Paper Peso issued after 1894 depreciated in line with the Argentine paper Peso. Paraguay reorganized its monetary system in November 1943, replacing the Peso with the Guarani (PYG), equal to 100 Paper Pesos and discontinued the legal status of Argentine currency.
The Paraguay Peso was divisible into 8 Reales, 16 Medios or 32 Cuartillos until 1870, divisible into 100 Centésimos until 1881, and divisible into 10 Reales or 100 Centavos from 1881 until 1944. The Guarani is divisible into 100 Centimos. The government issued banknotes until 1943. The Banco de la Republica was established on December 26, 1907, which was succeeded by the Banco del Paraguay on February 22, 1936 and by the Banco Central del Paraguay on March 25, 1952. Each bank was the sole issuing authority during its time.
Between 1960 and 1985, the guaraní was pegged to the United States dollar at 126 PYG to 1 USD.
The second issue, introduced in 1953, consisted of 10, 15, 25 and 50 céntimos coins. All were again minted in aluminium-bronze but were scallop shaped and featured the lion and Liberty cap on the obverse. None of the céntimo coins circulate today.
In 1975, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 50 guaranies, all of which were round and made of stainless steel. Since 1990, stainless steel has been replaced by brass plated steel nickel-brass. 100 guaranies coins were introduced in 1990, followed by 500 guaranies in 1997. 1000 guaranies coins were minted in 2006 and released in 2007.
The 1963 series (under the law of 1952) was a complete redesign. The lineup also expanded upward with the addition of 5000 and 10,000 guaraníes. This designed lasted for decades until inflation removed notes up to and including 500 guaraníes from circulation. The 1982 revision added denominations in the Guaraní language to the reverses.
The first 50,000 guaraníes notes were issued in 1990, followed by 100,000 guaraníes in 1998. During the last two decades of the 20th century, more than one printer printed guaraní notes.
Starting from 2004, the existing denominations, except 50,000 guaraníes, underwent small but easily noticeable changes, such as a more sophisticated and borderless underprint and enhanced security features. Giesecke & Devrient print the new 20,000 guaraní note, while De La Rue prints the rest. In 2009, the Central Bank launched the first 2,000 guaraníes polymer-made bills, which makes the notes more durable than the traditional cotton-fiber bills.
New 50,000 guaraníes bills of series C have been printed with the date of 2005, but as they obviously reached circulation by criminal ways before being launched officially, this series has been declared void and worthless by the central bank.
Summary info
Summary information about Paraguayan guaraní- ISO 4217 Code:
- PYG
- Currency sign:
- ₲
- Country:
- Paraguay
- Subunit:
- céntimo
- Coins:
- 50 guaranies, 100 guaranies, 500 guaranies
- Banknotes:
- 1000 guaranies, 2000 guaranies, 5000 guaranies, 10000 guaranies, 20000 guaranies, 50000 guaranies, 100000 guaranies
- Central bank:
- Central Bank of Paraguay
History
Sebastian Cabot arrived in Paraguay in 1527, sailing up the River Plate searching for gold and silver. Paraguay was part of the Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata until October 12, 1813 when it gained its independence from Spain.Spanish Escudos were used in Paraguay while it was a Spanish colony. Most of the coins were minted in Potosi. The first Paraguayan coins were minted in 1845; however, issues of Paraguayan coins were infrequent in the nineteenth century since Paraguay relied on Argentinian and other coins for commerce.
The Argentine Peso (ARG) had full legal tender status in Paraguay until November 1943. The Paraguay Peso Fuerte (PYF) was set at par to the Argentine Peso throughout this period; however, Paraguay issued excessive amounts of banknotes, causing the paper Paraguay Peso (PYP) to depreciate relative to the Gold Peso.
The first depreciation occurred during the War of the Triple Alliance in which all the banknotes issued by Paraguay eventually became worthless. The Paper Peso issued after 1894 depreciated in line with the Argentine paper Peso. Paraguay reorganized its monetary system in November 1943, replacing the Peso with the Guarani (PYG), equal to 100 Paper Pesos and discontinued the legal status of Argentine currency.
The Paraguay Peso was divisible into 8 Reales, 16 Medios or 32 Cuartillos until 1870, divisible into 100 Centésimos until 1881, and divisible into 10 Reales or 100 Centavos from 1881 until 1944. The Guarani is divisible into 100 Centimos. The government issued banknotes until 1943. The Banco de la Republica was established on December 26, 1907, which was succeeded by the Banco del Paraguay on February 22, 1936 and by the Banco Central del Paraguay on March 25, 1952. Each bank was the sole issuing authority during its time.
Between 1960 and 1985, the guaraní was pegged to the United States dollar at 126 PYG to 1 USD.
Coins
In 1944, aluminum-bronze coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 centimos. All were round shaped. The obverses featured a flower with "Republica del Paraguay" and the date surrounding it, except for the 50 centimos, which featured the lion and Liberty cap insignia. The denomination was shown on the reverses.The second issue, introduced in 1953, consisted of 10, 15, 25 and 50 céntimos coins. All were again minted in aluminium-bronze but were scallop shaped and featured the lion and Liberty cap on the obverse. None of the céntimo coins circulate today.
In 1975, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 50 guaranies, all of which were round and made of stainless steel. Since 1990, stainless steel has been replaced by brass plated steel nickel-brass. 100 guaranies coins were introduced in 1990, followed by 500 guaranies in 1997. 1000 guaranies coins were minted in 2006 and released in 2007.
Banknotes
The first guaraní notes were of 50 céntimos, 1, 5, and 10 guaraní overstamped on 50, 100, 500, and 1000 pesos in 1943. Regular guaraní notes for 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 guaraní, soon followed. They were printed by De La Rue.The 1963 series (under the law of 1952) was a complete redesign. The lineup also expanded upward with the addition of 5000 and 10,000 guaraníes. This designed lasted for decades until inflation removed notes up to and including 500 guaraníes from circulation. The 1982 revision added denominations in the Guaraní language to the reverses.
The first 50,000 guaraníes notes were issued in 1990, followed by 100,000 guaraníes in 1998. During the last two decades of the 20th century, more than one printer printed guaraní notes.
Starting from 2004, the existing denominations, except 50,000 guaraníes, underwent small but easily noticeable changes, such as a more sophisticated and borderless underprint and enhanced security features. Giesecke & Devrient print the new 20,000 guaraní note, while De La Rue prints the rest. In 2009, the Central Bank launched the first 2,000 guaraníes polymer-made bills, which makes the notes more durable than the traditional cotton-fiber bills.
New 50,000 guaraníes bills of series C have been printed with the date of 2005, but as they obviously reached circulation by criminal ways before being launched officially, this series has been declared void and worthless by the central bank.
PYG banknotes pictures gallery
| 1000 Paraguayan guaranies | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 1000 Paraguayan guaranies has dimensions 156×68 mm and main colors are pale chestnut, mountbatten pink, pastel brown, bazaar, rose quartz, wild blue yonder, desert sand and timberwolf. The banknote of 1000 Paraguayan guaranies was issued in 2004. | |
 Obverse side of the 1000 Paraguayan guaranies is showing the portrait of Mariscal Francisco Solano Lopez. |
 Reverse side of the 1000 Paraguayan guaranies is showing the Oratorio de la Virgen de la Asunción y Panteón Nacional de los Héroes. |
| 2000 Paraguayan guaranies | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 2000 Paraguayan guaranies has dimensions 156×67 mm and main colors are raspberry glace, cadet grey, pastel blue, twilight lavender, mountbatten pink, gainsboro, opera mauve and lilac. The banknote of 2000 Paraguayan guaranies was issued on the 12 December 2009. | |
 Obverse side of the 2000 Paraguayan guaranies is showing the portraits of Educators Adela and Celsa Speratti. |
 Reverse side of the 2000 Paraguayan guaranies is showing the Marchers with flags. |
| 5000 Paraguayan guaranies | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 5000 Paraguayan guaranies has dimensions 156×67 mm and main colors are rose vale, puce, old rose, pale chestnut, pastel gray, almond, pearl and timberwolf. The banknote of 5000 Paraguayan guaranies was issued on the 6 May 2009. | |
 Obverse side of the 5000 Paraguayan guaranies is showing the portrait of Don Carlos Antonio López. |
 Reverse side of the 5000 Paraguayan guaranies is showing the Lopez Palace - Palacio de los López. |
| 10000 Paraguayan guaranies | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 10000 Paraguayan guaranies has dimensions 156×68 mm and main colors are wenge, shadow, dark chestnut, cinereous, khaki, pale silver, almond and desert sand. The banknote of 10000 Paraguayan guaranies was issued in 2004. | |
 Obverse side of the 10000 Paraguayan guaranies is showing the portrait of Dr. José Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia. |
 Reverse side of the 10000 Paraguayan guaranies is showing the Declaration of Independence on the 14th of May 1811. |
| 20000 Paraguayan guaranies | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 20000 Paraguayan guaranies has dimensions 156×67 mm and main colors are cool grey, wild blue yonder, cambridge blue, pale cerulean, air force blue, pale aqua, lavender mist and light gray. The banknote of 20000 Paraguayan guaranies was issued in December 2010. | |
 Obverse side of the 20000 Paraguayan guaranies is showing La Mujer Paraguaya - Paraguayan women. |
 Reverse side of the 20000 Paraguayan guaranies is showing the Banco Central del Paraguay building. |
| 50000 Paraguayan guaranies | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 50000 Paraguayan guaranies has dimensions 156×68 mm and main colors are wild blue yonder, turquoise green, eton blue, lavender gray, pastel gray, aurometalsaurus, davy’s grey, sand, dark tan and moccasin. The banknote of 50000 Paraguayan guaranies was issued in 2008. | |
 Obverse side of the 50000 Paraguayan guaranies is showing the portrait of Agustin Barrios Mangore. |
 Reverse side of the 50000 Paraguayan guaranies is showing an image of a guitar. |
| 100000 Paraguayan guaranies | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 100000 Paraguayan guaranies has dimensions 156×68 mm and main colors are gray-asparagus, dark jungle green, fern green, eton blue, camouflage green, vanilla, honeydew and pale spring bud. The banknote of 100000 Paraguayan guaranies was issued in August 2010. | |
 Obverse side of the 100000 Paraguayan guaranies is showing the portrait of Roque Gonzalez de Santa Cruz (1576-162). |
 Reverse side of the 100000 Paraguayan guaranies is showing the Itaipu hydroelectric dam. |
Useful links
- About Central Bank of Paraguay:
- Banco Central del Paraguay
- List of currencies:
- Currencies
- Security and design features of PYG banknotes:
- PYG banknotes
- PYG currency on Wikipedia:
- Paraguayan guaraní
- Official Website of Central Bank of Paraguay:
- www.bcp.gov.py
- Commemorative coins:
- Commemorative Coins