In Argentina, there are a handful of words for money: guita, mosca, mango, gamba, palo, luca, tela, morlacos, and chirolas.
Do you happen to know where the expressions no tengo un cobre (which means a person has no money) or cuesta solo unas chirolas (which means something costs little money) come from?
We invite you to visit the Museum of the BCRA to find out!
At the Museum, you will learn about the evolution of Argentine currency and the means of payment in Argentina from native peoples’ times to the present.
The most valuable and complete collection of Argentine banknotes, coins and objects, made up of more than 27,000 pieces, is on display at the Museum.
The current building was declared National Historical Monument in 2005. It is situated a few meters away from Plaza de Mayo. It originally housed the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, designed by architects Henry Hunt and Hans Schröeder in 1862. Later, it accommodated the Caja de Conversión, the Office for National Public Lending and Banco Industrial, until it was finally transferred to the BCRA in 1942.
Free admission
Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
San Martín 216, C1004AAF, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.
(011) 4348-3882.