Honduran lempira

{{Infobox currency

| local_name = lempira hondureño

| replaced_currency = Honduran peso

| local_name_lang = es

| image_1 =

| image_title_1 = 200 lempira banknote

| iso_code = HNL

| date_of_introduction = 1931

| using_countries = {{flag|Honduras}}

| inflation_rate = 7.7%

| inflation_source_date = Central Bank of Honduras, June 2011.

| subunit_name_1 = centavo

| symbol = L

| used_coins = 5, 10, 20, 50 centavos

| used_banknotes = L1, L2, L5, L10, L20, L50, L100, L200, L500

| printer = {{ill|Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych|pl|lt=Polish Security Printing Works}}{{cite web | url=https://www.pwpw.pl/en/News/2015/01/30_million_banknotes_for_honduras.html | title=30 million banknotes for Honduras }}

| printer_website = {{URL|www.pwpw.pl|{{lang|pl|Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych|i=no}}}}

| issuing_authority = Central Bank of Honduras

| issuing_authority_website = {{URL|www.bch.hn}}

}}

The lempira ({{IPAc-en|l|ɛ|m|ˈ|p|ɪr|ə}}, sign: L, ISO 4217 code: HNL;{{IPA|es|lemˈpiɾa|ec}}) is the currency of Honduras. It is subdivided into 100 centavos.{{Cite web|date=2021-05-14|title=Currencies Of The World|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/currencies-of-the-world.html|access-date=2022-02-03|website=WorldAtlas|language=en-US}}

Etymology

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 local native resistance against the Spanish conquistador forces. He is a national hero and is honored on both the 1 lempira note and 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 United States dollar (the 20-centavos coin is called a daime as it was worth the same as a U.S. dime). As of April 4, 2022, the lempira was quoted at 24.40 HNL to US$1.{{Cite web|last=Unidas|first=Radio HRN-Del Grupo Emisoras|title=La devaluación del lempira no solo perfora las finanzas, analistas explican las repercusiones|url=https://www.radiohrn.hn/devaluacion-economia-lempira-moneda-expertos-consecuencias-dolar-nacional-economia|access-date=2022-02-05|website=Radio HRN - Del Grupo Emisoras Unidas|language=es}}

Coins

File:HND002.JPG

In 1931, coins were introduced in denominations of 5, 20 & 50 centavos, and 1 lempira. One, 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 & 50 centavos) replaced by cupro-nickel in 1967. The 1 and 2 centavos coins were last minted in 1998 and 1974, respectively.

Coins of the following denominations are currently legal tender.{{cite web|url=https://www.bch.hn/billetes-y-monedas/billetes-y-monedas-de-actual-circulacion/caracteristicas-generales-de-las-monedas-de-honduras|title=Banco Central de Honduras, Gobierno de la Republica de Honduras|access-date=24 April 2024}} However as of 2024 coins are only very rarely used for payments. In practice only banknotes are used.

1 centavo
2 centavos
5 centavos
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 50 and 100 lempiras notes in 1950, followed by the 500-lempiras note in 1995.

In January, 2010, a new 20-lempira note was introduced to market made by a polymer base, 60 million notes were issued.{{cite web |url=http://www.elheraldo.hn/Econom%C3%ADa/Ediciones/2010/01/13/Noticias/Emiten-1-200-millones-en-billetes-de-20-lempiras |title=Emiten 1,200 millones en billetes de 20 lempiras | language=es | trans-title=1.2 billion in 20 lempira bills issued |access-date=2010-04-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606014132/http://www.elheraldo.hn/Econom%C3%ADa/Ediciones/2010/01/13/Noticias/Emiten-1-200-millones-en-billetes-de-20-lempiras |archive-date=2011-06-06 }}

In celebration of the bicentennial anniversary of Honduras's independence, a new 200 lempira bill was issued. It features 2 scarlet macaws, the national bird of Honduras.{{Cite web|last=seguir|first=Redacción Autor marcado para|title=Billete de 200 lempiras viene a facilitar las transacciones en el comercio|url=https://www.laprensa.hn/honduras/billete-200-lempiras-viene-facilitar-transacciones-comercio-honduras-GJlp1489935|access-date=2021-10-19|website=www.laprensa.hn|language=es-HN}}

Banknotes in circulation are{{cite web|url=http://www.bch.hn/billetes.php|title=Banco Central de Honduras, Gobierno de la Republica de Honduras|first=Francisco Javier Morazán Matute, Henri López, Mario|last=Bonilla|website=Bch.hn|access-date=4 October 2017|archive-date=10 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610195507/https://www.bch.hn/billetes.php|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=Del trueque a la moneda: hitos de la evolución monetaria en Honduras|url=https://www.elheraldo.hn/pais/1476661-466/trueque-moneda-evolucion-honduras-bicentenario-2021|access-date=2022-02-03|website=Diario El Heraldo|language=es-HN}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
Image	New	Value	Color	Dimensions	Obverse	Reverse
109px \| \| L1 \| Red \| rowspan="9" \| 156 × 67 mm \| Lempira \| Copán
109px \| \| L2 \| Purple \| Marco Aurelio Soto \| Amapala
109px \| \| L5 \| Gray \| Francisco Morazán \| Battle of La Trinidad
109px \| \| L10 \| Brown \| José Trinidad Cabañas \| Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras
109px \| \| L20 \| Green \| Dionisio de Herrera \| Presidential palace
\| \| L50 \| Blue \| Juan Manuel Gálvez \| Central Bank of Honduras
109px \| \| L100 \| Orange \| José Cecilio del Valle \| Casa Valle
\| \|L200 \|Turquoise \|2 Scarlet Macaws \|Banco Central de Honduras
\| \| L500 \| Violet \| Ramón Rosa \|San Juancito

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"

Image

New

Value

Color

Dimensions

Obverse

Reverse

109px

| L1

| Red

| rowspan="9" | 156 × 67 mm