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Colombian peso facts for kids

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Colombian peso
Banknotes of $50,000 from the 2016 series
Banknotes of $50,000 from the 2016 series
ISO 4217 Code COP
Official user(s)  Colombia
Unofficial user(s)  Venezuela
Inflation 7.18% (June 2024)
Subunit
1100 centavo
(Discontinued in 1984)
Symbol $
Coins
Freq. used $100, $200, $500, $1,000
Banknotes
Freq. used $2,000, $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000, $100,000

The Colombian peso (sign: $; code: COP) is the currency of Colombia. Its ISO 4217 code is COP. The official peso symbol is $, with Col$. also being used to distinguish it from other peso- and dollar-denominated currencies.

One peso is divided one hundred centavos; however, because of high inflation in the 1970s and 1980s, Colombia ceased issuing centavo coins for circulation in 1984. It remains customary to write monetary amounts with centavos, although it is rare in daily lives and general contexts. The 50 peso coins are still legal tender, but due to its low value and circulation, most cash transactions are rounded to the nearest 100 pesos, while electronic transactions are usually completed to the centavo, even though centavos have practically no purchasing power.

History

USD exchange rate to COP
US dollar exchange rate against Colombian peso, starting from 1991.

Colombia used Spanish colonial real until 1820 after independence from Spain was achieved. It was replaced by the Colombian real. In 1837, the Colombian real was replaced by the current peso at a rate of 1 peso = 8 reales and was initially subdivided into 8 reales. In 1847, Colombia decimalized the currency and the peso was subdivided into ten reales, each of 10 décimos de reales, later centavos. The real was renamed the décimo in 1853, although the last reales were struck in 1880. The current system of 100 centavos to the peso was first used in 1819 on early banknotes but did not reappear until the early 1860s on banknotes and was not used on the coinage until 1872.

In 1871, Colombia adopted the gold standard, pegging the peso to the French franc at a rate of 1 peso = 5 francs. This peg only lasted until 1886. From 1888, printing press inflation caused Colombia's paper money (pegged to sterling at a rate of four shillings to one peso, or 5 pesos = 1 pound) to depreciate and the exchange rate between coins and paper money was fixed at 100 peso moneda corriente = 1 coinage peso. Between 1907 and 1914, coins were issued denominated in "peso p/m", equal to paper pesos. In 1910, the Conversion Board began issuing banknotes in the form of peso oro. In 1931, the United Kingdom left the gold standard and the peso shifted its peg to the United States dollar, at a rate of 1.05 pesos = 1 dollar, a slight devaluation from its previous peg, this until 1949. Nevertheless, Peso banknotes continued to be issued expressed as peso oro until 1993.

In 2018, the Congress of Colombia debated whether to redenominate the peso at a rate of 1,000 pesos = 1 new peso, removing three zeroes from its face value, in order to make accounting and banking operations easier. A new series of banknotes was introduced in 2016 with the last three zeroes of the denomination replaced by the word "mil" (thousand), this would enable the printing of the same banknotes with the word "mil" replaced by the word "nuevos" (new). The proposal was supported by then President Juan Manuel Santos, but faced opposition due to the high cost it would have and the minimal benefits it would bring, also confusion in a mostly cash-based economy, contracts made, and the possibility of future inflation rending the changes meaningless, though reduction of inflation was not one of the expected outcomes of the redenomination. President Iván Duque did not support the change, and the proposal is currently not considered by the Government.

Coins

Between 1837 and 1839, silver 14, 12, 1, 2, and 8 real coins were introduced, along with gold 1, 2, and 16 pesos. These were mostly continuations of coins issued before 1837 in the name of the Republic of Colombia but with the escudo denominations replaced by pesos. In 1847, the currency was decimalized and coins were introduced in denominations of 12 and 1 décimo de real in copper and 1, 2, 8, and 10 reales in silver. 14 and 12 real coins followed in 1849 and 1850. In 1853, silver 12 and 1 décimo, and gold 10 peso coins were introduced, followed by 2 décimos in 1854 and 1 peso in 1855, both in silver. In 1856, gold 5 peso coins were added.

Between 1859 and 1862, coins were issued by the Grenadine Confederation in silver for 14, 12 and 2 reales, 14, 12 and 1 décimo, and 1 peso, and in gold for 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 pesos. The United States of New Grenada issued silver 1 décimo and 1 peso in 1861.

Beginning in 1862, coins were issued by the United States of Colombia. Silver coins were struck in denominations of 14, 12, 1, 2, and 5 décimos, and 1 peso, together with gold 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 pesos. With the introduction of the centavo in 1872, silver 2+12, 5, 10, 20, and 50 centavos were issued, followed by cupro-nickel 1+14 centavos in 1874 and cupro-nickel 2+12 centavos in 1881.

In 1886, the country's name reverted to the Republic of Colombia. The first issues were cupro-nickel 5 centavos. Except for silver 50 centavos (also denominated 5 décimos) issued between 1887 and 1889, no other denominations were issued until 1897, when silver 10 and 20 centavos were introduced. Silver 5 centavos were issued in 1902

In 1907, following the stabilization of the paper money, cupro-nickel 1, 2, and 5 pesos p/m were introduced and issued until 1916. In 1913, after the pegging of the peso to sterling, gold 2+12 and 5 peso coins were introduced which were of the same weight and composition as the half sovereign and sovereign. Gold 10 pesos were also issued in 1919 and 1924, with the 2+12 and 5 pesos issued until 1929 and 1930, respectively.

In 1918, the 1, 2, and 5 pesos p/m coins were replaced by 1, 2, and 5 centavo coins of the same size and composition. In 1942, bronze 1 and 5 centavo coins were introduced, followed by bronze 2 centavos in 1948. Between 1952 and 1958, cupro-nickel replaced silver in the 10, 20 and 50 centavos.

In 1967, copper-clad-steel 1 and 5 centavos were introduced, together with nickel-clad-steel 10, 20 and 50 centavos and cupro-nickel 1 peso coins, the 2 centavos having ceased production in 1960. In 1977, bronze 2 pesos were introduced. In 1984, production of all coins below 1 peso ended. Higher denominations were introduced in the following years of high inflation. 5 peso coins were introduced in 1980, followed by 10 pesos in 1981, 20 pesos in 1982, 50 pesos in 1986, 100 pesos in 1992, 200 pesos in 1994, 500 pesos in 1993 and 1000 pesos in 1996. However, due to massive counterfeiting problems, the 1000 pesos was withdrawn by stages. By 2002, the coin was out of circulation.

In February 2009, the central bank stopped the minting of 5, 10, 20 peso coins. They were still legal tender, but due to their low value and circulation, most cash transactions were rounded to the nearest 100 pesos.

In 2012, the Bank of the Republic of Colombia issued a new series of coins with the 500 and 1000 peso coins now struck as Bi-metallic coins.

2012 Coin Series
Image Value Technical parameters Description
Obverse Reverse Diameter Thickness Mass Composition Edge Obverse Reverse
50 PESOS COLOMBIA 2020 ANVERSO.jpg 50 PESOS COLOMBIA 2020 REVERSO.jpg 50 pesos 17 mm 1.3 mm 2.0 g Nickel-plated steel Plain The spectacled bear, its popular name, and scientific name. Value, bordered with the words "Republic of Colombia" and the year of minting.
100 PESOS COLOMBIA 2022 ANVERSO.jpg 100 PESOS COLOMBIA 2022 REVERSO.jpg 100 pesos 20.3 mm 1.55 mm 3.34 g Brass-plated steel
90.8% iron, 1.2% carbon; Layers: 6.4%-7.2% copper, 3.2%-2.4% zinc
Plain The frailejón, its popular name, and scientific name. Value, bordered with the words "Republic of Colombia" and the year of minting.
200 PESOS COLOMBIA 2023 ANVERSO.jpg 200 PESOS COLOMBIA 2023 REVERSO.jpg 200 pesos 22.4 mm 1.7 mm 4.61 g 65% copper
20% zinc
15% nickel
Lettered with Plain edge The scarlet macaw, its popular name, and scientific name. Value, bordered with the words "Republic of Colombia" and the year of minting.
500 PESOS COLOMBIA 2023 ANVERSO.jpg 500 PESOS COLOMBIA 2023 REVERSO.jpg 500 pesos 23.7 mm 2 mm 7.14 g Outer Ring: 65% copper
20% zinc
15% nickel
Centre Plug: 92% copper
6% aluminium
2% nickel
Segmented (Plain and Reeded sections) The glass frog, its popular name, and scientific name. Value, bordered with the words "Republic of Colombia" and the year of minting.
1000 PESOS COLOMBIA 2022 ANVERSO.jpg 1000 PESOS COLOMBIA 2022 REVERSO.jpg 1,000 pesos 26.7  mm 2.7 mm 9.95 g Outer Ring: 92% copper
6% aluminium
2% nickel
Centre Plug: 65% copper
20% zinc
15% nickel
Security The loggerhead sea turtle, its popular name, and scientific name. Value, bordered with the words "Republic of Colombia" and the year of minting.
Pre-2012 Coin Series
Image Value Technical parameters Description
Obverse Reverse Diameter Thickness Mass Composition Obverse Reverse
20 pesos 17.2 mm 1.15 mm 2 g 70% copper
30% zinc
Simón Bolívar Value
50 COP Anverso Ant.png 50 COP Reverso Ant.png 50 pesos 21 mm 1.3 mm 4.5 g 65% copper,
20 % zinc,
15 % nickel
Coat of arms of Colombia bordered with the words República de Colombia Value
100 COP Anverso AnT.png 100 COP Reverso AnT.png 100 pesos 23 mm 1.55 mm 5.31 g aluminium bronze
92% copper
6% aluminium
2% nickel
Coat of arms of Colombia bordered with the words República de Colombia Value
200 COP Anverso AnT.png 200 COP Reverso AnT.png 200 pesos 24.4 mm 1.7 mm 7.08 g 65% copper
20% zinc
15% nickel
Quimbaya civilization figurine Value
500 COP Anverso Ant.png 500 COP Reverso Ant.png 500 pesos 23.5 mm 2 mm 7.43 g Outer Ring: 65% copper
20% zinc
15% nickel
Centre Plug: 92% copper
6% aluminium
2% nickel
Guacarí's tree "El árbol de Guacarí", in recognition of the efforts by the people of Guacarí, Valle del Cauca to preserve the environment and protect the ecology Value

Banknotes

Between 1857 and 1880, five of Colombia's then provinces, Bolívar, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Panama and Santander issued their own paper money. Denominations included 10¢ and 50¢, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 50 and 100 pesos.

In the early 1860s, banknotes were issued in denominations of 20¢ and 1, 2, 3, 10, 20 and 100 pesos, with all denominations also given in reales. In 1881, the Banco Nacional introduced notes for 20¢, and 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pesos. These were followed by 50¢ notes in 1882 and 10¢ in 1885. 1,000 peso notes were introduced in 1895 and 500 peso notes in 1900. In 1904, the Treasury took over paper money production, issuing 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 peso notes, followed by 1,000 pesos in 1908. In 1910, the Conversion Board introduced 50 and 100 peso notes, followed by 1, 2, 5 and 10 pesos in 1915.

More than sixty retail banks issued banknotes between 1865 and 1923. Denominations issued included 10¢, 20¢, 25¢, 50¢, and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100 and 500 pesos.

In 1923, the Banco de la República monopolized paper money production and introduced notes denominated in peso oro. The first were provisional issues, overprinted on earlier notes of the Casa de Moneda de Medellín, in denominations of 2+12, 5, 10 and 20 pesos. Regular issues followed for 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500 pesos oro. Twenty peso notes were introduced in 1927.

In 1932 and 1941, silver certificates were issued for 1 and 5 pesos plata, although 1 and 5 peso oro notes continued to be produced. Treasury notes for 5 and 10 pesos oro were issued in 1938, followed by 12 peso oro between 1948 and 1953. Half peso oro notes were also produced by the Banco de la República in 1943 by cutting in half 1 peso notes.

The Banco de la República introduced 200 and 1,000 peso oro notes in 1974 and 1979, respectively, whilst 1 and 2 peso oro notes ceased production in 1977, followed by 10 pesos oro in 1980, 5 pesos oro in 1981, 20 pesos in 1983 and 50 pesos in 1986. 500 pesos oro notes were introduced in 1986 with 10,000 pesos oro in 1992. Production of 100 peso oro notes ended in 1991, followed by that of the 200 pesos oro in 1992 and 500 pesos oro in 1993. In 1993, the word oro was dropped. 20,000 peso notes were introduced in 1996, followed by 50,000 pesos in 2000.

In November 2006, the 1,000 and 2,000 peso notes were reduced in size from 140 × 70 mm to 130 × 65 mm, because these notes are frequently replaced due to heavy use.

In December 2010, the Banco de la República issued a 2,000 peso note that now includes the number "2" expressed in Braille in the watermark area.

In 2016, the Banco de la Republica issued a new series of banknotes in denominations of 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 pesos, with the latter being a new and the highest denomination. These banknotes give continuity of biodiversity present in the new series of coins that began circulating in 2012, while highlighting a group of cultural elements and landscapes of Colombia's geography. Additionally, the notes pay tribute to major personalities of culture, science and politics, and reinforces recognition of women's important role in Colombian society. The new 100,000 pesos banknote was introduced on 31 March 2016, followed by the 20,000 pesos note on 30 June 2016, the 50,000 pesos note on 19 August 2016, the 5,000 pesos note on 9 November 2016, and the 2,000 pesos note on 29 November 2016. The 10,000 pesos note was issued on 7 December 2016, completing the new banknote series.

2016 Banknote series
Image Value Dimensions Background color Description Date of Notes
Obverse Reverse Watermark first series Issue last series
2,000 pesos 128 × 66 mm   Blue Débora Arango Caño Cristales The face of painter Débora Arango and the number 2 19 August 2015 29 November 2016
5,000 pesos 133 × 66 mm   Brown José Asunción Silva Colombian paramos The face of poet José Asunción Silva and the number 5 19 August 2015 9 November 2016
10,000 pesos 138 × 66 mm   Red Virginia Gutiérrez de Pineda Amazon natural region The face of anthropologist Virginia Gutiérrez and the number 10 19 August 2015 7 December 2016
20,000 pesos 143 × 66 mm   Orange Alfonso López Michelsen La Mojana channels in the region of the Zenú people and the sombrero vueltiao The face of President Alfonso López Michelsen and the number 20 19 August 2015 30 June 2016
50,000 pesos 148 × 66 mm   Violet Gabriel García Márquez Lost City (core of the culture tayrona) The face of Nobel Prize winner, Gabriel García Márquez and the number 50 19 August 2015 19 August 2016
100,000 pesos 153 × 66 mm   Green Carlos Lleras Restrepo Wax palm in Cocora valley, Quindío; Barranquero bird; Luis Vidales's poem about wax palm; Liberty head bank seal
The face of President Carlos Lleras Restrepo and the number 100.
8 August 2014 31 March 2016
Pre-2016 Banknote series
Image Value Dimensions Background color Description Date of Notes
Obverse Reverse Watermark first series Issue last series
1,000 pesos 130 × 65 mm   Orange Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Jorge Eliécer Gaitán (upper-half body) and a crowd Jorge Eliécer Gaitán August 7, 2001 November 17, 2001
2,000 pesos 130 × 65 mm   Green and beige Francisco de Paula Santander The door of the Casa de la moneda Francisco de Paula Santander April 2, 1996 April 2, 1996 2000 pesos banknotes with the issue date of 19.08.2009 (August 19, 2009) include a Braille script added in the watermark area.
5,000 pesos 140 × 70 mm   Green José Asunción Silva Outdoors and the entire "Nocturno" poem in microtext font José Asunción Silva March 1, 1995 September 22, 1995
10,000 pesos 140 × 70 mm   Reddish brown Policarpa Salavarrieta Guaduas main plaza, place of birth of Policarpa Salavarrieta Policarpa Salavarrieta March 1, 1995 November 30, 1995
[1] 20,000 pesos 140 × 70 mm   Sapphire Julio Garavito, and the Moon, a reference to the Garavito Crater The Earth as viewed from the Moon's surface Julio Garavito July 23, 1996 December 2, 1996
50,000 pesos 140 × 70 mm   Purple and white Jorge Isaacs A paragraph of La María Jorge Isaacs August 7, 2000 November 24, 2000
Withdrawn Banknotes
Image Value Dimensions Background color Description Date of Notes
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark first series Issue last series
1 peso oro 140 × 70 mm   Turquoise Santander and Bolívar Effigy of the freedom Without watermarks
1 peso oro 140 × 70 mm   Indigo Bolívar and Santander Andean condor Without watermarks August 7, 1973
2 pesos oro 140 × 70 mm   Purple Policarpa Salavarrieta Muisca raft. The figure refers to the ceremony of the legend of El Dorado. Without watermarks July 20, 1976
5 pesos oro 140 × 70 mm   Dark green José María Córdova Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, Cartagena Without watermarks July 20, 1971
10 pesos oro 140 × 70 mm   Purple Antonio Nariño San Agustín Archaeological Park Without watermarks August 7, 1980
20 pesos oro 140 × 70 mm   Coffee Francisco José de Caldas Various archaeological items belonging to the Museo del Oro Without watermarks
20 pesos oro 140 × 70 mm   Purple Francisco José de Caldas Building of the Banco de la República in Barranquilla. Gold Museum Without watermarks January 2, 1961
50 pesos oro 140 × 70 mm   Purple Camilo Torres Tenorio Orchidaceae (Cattleya trianae), national flower of Colombia Camilo Torres Tenorio July 20, 1973
100 pesos oro 140 × 70 mm   Purple Francisco de Paula Santander Capitolio Nacional, Bogotá The freedom.
100 pesos oro 140 × 70 mm   Orange Antonio Nariño Villa de Leyva, Boyacá Department Antonio Nariño August 7, 1981
200 pesos oro 140 × 70 mm   Dark green Simón Bolívar Peasant collecting coffee Simón Bolívar
200 pesos oro 140 × 70 mm   Dark green José Celestino Mutis Cloister of the Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, Bogotá José Celestino Mutis April 1, 1991
500 pesos oro 140 × 70 mm   Green dark and black Francisco de Paula Santander Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá Perfil.
500 pesos oro 140 × 70 mm   Coffee Francisco de Paula Santander Casa de la Moneda, Bogotá Perfil July 20, 1986
1000 pesos oro 140 × 70 mm   Brown and green José Antonio Galán Casa de Nariño, Bogotá José Antonio Galán April 1, 1979
1000 pesos 140 × 70 mm   Turquoise Simón Bolívar Monument to the Lancers, Boyacá Department Simón Bolívar January 1, 1982 1997
2000 pesos oro 140 × 70 mm   Brown Simón Bolívar Pass of El Libertador Simon Bolivar over the Pisba Tableland., work of Francisco Antonio Cano Simón Bolívar January 1, 1984 1994
5000 pesos oro 140 × 70 mm   Purple Rafael Núñez Miguel Antonio Caro, the shield and the States that made up the United States of Colombia Rafael Núñez August 5, 1986 1994
10,000 pesos oro 140 × 70 mm   Coffee Emberá people Birds of the fauna of Colombia and the map of Waldseemüller (1507) Emberá people 1994

Use in Venezuela

The crisis in Venezuela has caused an economic crisis in which the value of the bolívar declined rapidly, resulting in hyperinflation. Some areas in Venezuela informally accept the peso for transactions, alongside the United States dollar.

The state of Táchira adopted the Colombian peso as legal tender, and the bolívar is rarely used.

Current COP exchange rates
From Google Finance: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD INR
From Yahoo! Finance: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD INR
From XE.com: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD INR
From OANDA: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD INR
From fxtop.com: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD INR

Unidad de Valor Real (UVR)

The Unidad de Valor Real ("real value unit", UVR, ISO 4217 code COU) is an accounting currency, maintained by the Banco de la Republíca, that reflects inflation and purchase power. It is used to calculate the cost of housing loans which allows financial entities to maintain the purchasing power of borrowed money.

See also

  • Economy of Colombia
  • Mexican peso
  • Vertical currency
  • 20,000 Colombian peso note
  • 50,000 Colombian peso note
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