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Honduran lempira

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Honduran lempira
lempira hondureño Template:Es icon
ISO 4217
CodeHNL (numeric: 340)
Subunit0.01
Unit
SymbolL
Denominations
Subunit
 1/100centavo
BanknotesL1, L2, L5, L10, L20, L50, L100, L500
Coins10, 20, 50 centavos
Demographics
User(s)Honduras
Issuance
Central bankBanco Central de Honduras
 Websitewww.bch.hn
Valuation
Inflation5.7%
 SourceThe World Factbook, 2006 est.

The lempira (ISO 4217 code: HNL) 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 on the 20 and 50 centavos coins.

History

The lempira was introduced in 1931, replacing the peso at par. In the late 1980s, the exchange rate was two lempiras to the U.S. dollar (the 20 centavos coin is called a daime as they used to be worth the same as a U.S. dime). As of August 2006, the lempira was quoted at 18.8932 HNL to 1 USD.

Coins

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

Coins currently in circulation are [1]

  • 1 centavo - discontinued in 1985
  • 2 centavos - discontinued in 1990
  • 5 centavos - discontinued in 1998
  • 10 centavos
  • 20 centavos
  • 50 centavos

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 100 lempiras notes in 1951. In 1975, 100 lemprias notes were added, followed by 500 lempiras in 1995.

Banknotes in circulation are [2]

Image Value Color Dimensions Obverse
L1 Red 156 × 67 mm Lempira
L2 Purple Marco Aurelio Soto
L5 Green Francisco Morazán
L10 Brown Jose Trinidad Cabañas
L20 Green Dionisio de Herrera
File:50Lempira.jpg L50 Cyan Juan Manuel Galvez
L100 Orange Jose Cecilio del Valle
File:500Lempira.jpg L500 Violet Ramon Rosa
Current HNL exchange rates
From Google Finance: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From Yahoo! Finance: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From XE.com: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From OANDA: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD