Peruvian sol

Peruvian sol sol peruano (Spanish)
1 sol coin with the motto: "Firme y feliz por la unión" ("Steady and happy for the union").
ISO 4217 Code	PEH
User(s)	Peru
Subunit
1/100	centavo
Symbol	S./
Plural	soles
Central bank	Central Reserve Bank of Peru
Website	www.bcrp.gob.pe

The sol, later known as the sol de oro, was the currency of Peru between 1863 and 1985. It had the ISO 4217 currency code PEH. It was subdivided into 10 dineros or 100 centavos. The name derives from the sueldo, the Spanish equivalent of the French sou and Italian soldo.

History

The sol was introduced in 1863 when Peru completed its decimalization, replacing the real at a rate of 1 sol = 10 reales. The sol also replaced the Bolivian peso, which had circulated in southern Peru, at the rate of 4 soles = 5 Bolivian pesos. Between 1858 and 1863, coins had been issued denominated in reales, centavos and escudos. The sol was initially pegged to the French franc at a rate of 1 sol = 5 francs (approximately 5 soles to the British pound). In 1880 and 1881, silver coins denominated in pesetas, were issued, worth 20 centavos to the peseta. In 1881, the inca, worth ten soles, was introduced for use on banknotes. The peg to the franc was replaced in 1901 by a link to sterling at a rate of 10 soles = 1 pound, with gold coins and banknotes issued denominated in libra. This peg was maintained until 1932 when Peru left the gold standard and established a rate of 2.5 soles = 1 U.S. dollar. In 1933, banknotes were issued once more denominated in soles, now called soles de oro. This name also appeared from 1935 on coins, when silver was replaced by base metal. During the hyperinflation that occurred in Peru during the presidency of Fernando Belaúnde Terry, the sol was replaced in 1985 by the inti at a rate of one thousand to one. The nuevo sol replaced the inti in 1991 at the rate of one million to one.

Coins

1863 gold 10 soles. Left: obverse showing the coat of arms of Peru. Right: reverse showiing a woman and the denomination

In 1863, cupro-nickel coins for 1 and 2 centavos and .900 silver coins for ½ and 1 dinero and ¹⁄₅ sol were introduced, followed by .900 silver ½ and 1 sol in 1864. Gold 5, 10 and 20 soles were issued only in 1863. In 1875 and 1876, bronze replaced cupro-nickel. In 1879 and 1880, provisional coins were struck in cupro-nickel in denominations of 5, 10 and 20 centavos for replaced the banknotes of cents. In 1898, gold coins for 1 libra were introduced, followed by ½ libra in 1902 and ¹⁄₅ libra in 1905. These were issued for circulation until 1930. In 1918, cupro-nickel 5, 10 and 20 centavos coins were introduced, followed, in 1922 with ½ and 1 sol coins in .500 fineness silver. The silver ½ and 1 sol were replaced by brass coins in 1935. Brass 5, 10 and 20 centavos followed in 1942. In 1950, zinc 1 and 2 centavos coins were introduced which were issued until 1965 and 1958, respectively. In 1966, 25 centavos coins were introduced, followed, in 1969, by cupro-nickel 5 and 10 soles. Production of 5 and 25 centavos ceased in 1975, followed by 10 and 20 centavos in 1976, and 50 centavos in 1977. In 1978, brass replaced cupro-nickel in the 5 and 10 soles whilst aluminium-bronze 50 soles and cupro-nickel 100 soles coins were introduced in 1979 and 1980. The last 1 and 5 soles coins were issued in 1982 and 1983. In 1984, brass 10, 50, 100 and 500 soles coins were issued. The last of these pieces was minted in 1985.

Banknotes

The first banknotes were introduced by the private banks. In 1864, the Banco La Providencia introduced notes for 5, 20, 40, 80 and 200 soles, with all but the 5 soles also denominated in pesos (25, 50, 10 and 250 pesos). Later issues of this bank included denominations of ½, 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 soles. Other private banks which issued notes in Peru were:

Additional denominations to those issued by the Banco La Providencia included 10, 20 and 40 centavos, 25 and 400 soles.

20 soles banknote, 1879

In 1879, the government introduced notes for 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 soles. In 1881, 5 and 100 incas notes were overprinted with the denominations 50 and 1000 soles. In 1914, Cheques Circulares were introduced for ½, 1, 5 and 10 libras. 1 sol cheques were issued in 1918 whilst, in 1917, gold certificates for 5 and 50 centavos and 1 sol were issued. In 1922, the Reserve Bank of Peru took over paper money production, issuing a final series of libra notes. In 1933, the Reserve Bank began issuing notes denominated in soles de oro. The first issues were libra notes overprinted with the new denominations of 5, 10, 50 and 100 soles. Regular issues followed in denominations of 50 centavos, 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 soles. 50 centavos and 1 sol were only issued in 1935. 500 soles notes were introduced in 1946, followed by 200 and 1000 soles in 1968. The 5 soles note was last produced in 1974, with the 10 and 50 soles being phased out after 1976, the year in which 5000 soles notes were introduced. In 1979, 10,000 soles notes were added, followed by 50,000 soles in 1981 and 100,000 soles in 1985.

See also

• Economy of Peru

References

External links

• Don's World Coin Gallery - Peru
• Ron Wise's World Paper Money - Peru ^{Mirror site}
• The Global History of Currencies - Peru
• Global Financial Data data series - Peru New Sol
• Global Financial Data currency histories table ( Microsoft Excel format)

•  • e Historical currencies of Peru
Main line Real         –1863 Sol 1863–1985 Inti 1985–1991 Nuevo sol 1991–present Non main line Peseta 1880–1882 Inca 1881–1882 Libra 1898–1931