Coins of the Argentine Republic

ARS1, ARS2, ARS5, and ARS10 Coins

Monedas de uno y cinco pesos

The BCRA puts into circulation ARS2 and ARS10 coins which feature a silk floss tree and a calden tree, respectively. These coins complete the Peso Series Trees of the Argentine Republic. The coins of this Series will be used alongside older coins and banknotes with the same value. The new coin series is part of the plan to standardize currency in circulation implemented through different measures such as the launch of ARS20, ARS200, ARS500, and ARS1000 banknotes; the creation of an electronic platform for interbank exchange of banknotes, and the destruction of damaged banknotes.



How to get new coins?

They will be gradually put into circulation through financial institutions—the usual distribution channel. In addition, coins will further be provided in containers to large companies, chambers of commerce, or similar institutions. For more information, send an e-mail to operaciones.monedas@bcra.gob.ar.

ARS1 Coin

    Specifications
  • - It is striken in reddish-colored copper plated steel.
  • - Its diameter is 20 mm and it weighs 4.3 g.
  • - It is 1.7 mm thick and has a plain edge.
  • - The obverse side displays at the center a jacaranda tree. The upper arch reads “REPUBLICA ARGENTINA” (ARGENTINE REPUBLIC). The lower arch reads “JACARANDA” (“JACARANDA”).
  • - The reverse side shows a flower of the jacaranda tree, on the right. The upper arch contains the year of coinage “2017” The legend “EN UNION Y LIBERTAD” (“IN UNION AND LIBERTY”) appears in the lower part. Finally, the wording “1 PESO” appears on the left top side of the design in reference to Argentina's Northwest region, where this tree, the regional emblematic flora, grows.


Flower of the Jacaranda Tree

ARS 2 Coin

    Specifications
  • - It is striken in brass-plated plated steel in a golden color.
  • - Its diameter is 21.5 mm and it weighs 5 g.
  • - It has a plain edge.
  • - The center displays a silk floss tree, exhibiting its bottle-shaped trunk as its most noticeable characteristic feature. The upper arch reads “REPUBLICA ARGENTINA” (ARGENTINE REPUBLIC) while the lower arch reads “PALO BORRACHO” (“SILK FLOSS TREE”).
  • - The silhouette of a flower from the silk floss tree appears on the left on the reverse side. The lower arch reads “EN UNION Y LIBERTAD” (“IN UNION AND LIBERTY”). The upper arch contains the year of coinage “2018” The phrase “2 PESOS” is shown on the upper right side in reference to Argentina's Northeast region, where the tree grows.


Silk Floss Tree Flower

ARS 5 Coin

    Specifications
  • - It is striken in silver-colored nickel plated steel.
  • - Its diameter is 23 mm and it weighs 7.3 g.
  • - It is 2.2 mm thick and has a plain edge.
  • - The center of the obverse side displays a myrtle tree. The upper arch reads “REPUBLICA ARGENTINA” (ARGENTINE REPUBLIC) while the lower arch reads “ARRAYAN” (“MYRTLE”).
  • - The reverse side displays a flower of a myrtle tree together with the year of coinage “2017”, on the right. The upper arch reads “EN UNION Y LIBERTAD” (“IN UNION AND LIBERTY”). The wording “5 PESOS” extends to the bottom of the design in reference to the Argentina’s southern region called Patagonia, where the myrtle tree, the regional emblematic flora, grows.


Flowers of the Myrtle Tree

ARS 10 Coin

    Specifications
  • - It is striken in alpaca and has a golden color.
  • - Its diameter is 24.5 mm and it weighs 9 g.
  • - It has a reeded edge.
  • - The center displays a stylized image of a calden tree, a species native to Argentina, with a rounded and wide top. The upper arch reads “REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA” (“ARGENTINE REPUBLIC”) while the lower arch reads “CALDÉN” (“CALDEN”), the common tree name.
  • - The reverse side displays the silhouette of a flower containing the face value in micro-sized numbers and calden tree leaves. The upper arch reads “EN UNIÓN Y LIBERTAD” (“IN UNION AND LIBERTY”) and the lower arch shows the year of coinage “2018”. The “10 PESOS” denomination is placed at the center as a metaphor for the central region in Argentina where the tree grows.


Calden

Trees in the New Coins

Jacaranda Tree

Jacaranda mimosifolia. Bignoniaceae Family. Commonly known as jacaranda, tarco.
It is native to the Southern Yungas. Tree-planting extends down to the heart of the province of Buenos Aires for urban landscape purposes, particularly, on account of its purple-blue flower. If you wish to visit the most dense natural environment of the silk floss tree, you may go to the Phytogeographical Region of the Low Mountain Jungle (Selva Pedemontana). If you happen to visit or live in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, you may enjoy beautiful sceneries of over 11,000 jacaranda trees (according to the 2010 Census of Urban Trees on Roadsides of the City), which were mostly planted as designed by the landscape architect Carlos Thays.

Silk Floss Tree

Ceiba insignis (Chorisia speciosa). Bombacaceae Family. Commonly known as silk floss tree, samohu.
It grows in Brazil, Paraguay, and Northeast Argentina. Its pinkish or whitish flowers are visible from late summer to mid-fall. Curiously, its trunk is studded with thick, sharp prickles; its fruits contain seeds surrounded by a white mass of fibrous fluffy matter. They appear very bright and colorful in Buenos Aires in the area of Plaza San Martín square, they are also present in the parks of Palermo and many other parks, squares, and streets.

Myrtle Tree

Luma apiculata. Myrtaceae Family. Commonly known as myrtle, quetri, cuthu.
It grows in the Subantartic Forests, in the provinces of Neuquen, Rio Negro, and Chubut, near rivers and on lake banks. If you wish to visit the natural environment of the myrtle tree, you can go to Los Arrayanes National Park at the south of the province of Neuquen, which hosts the thickest forest of myrtle trees in Argentina.

Calden

Prosopis caldenia. Fabaceae, or Leguminosae Family. Commonly known as calden.
It is an endemic species; i.e., it only grows in Argentina—mostly central region—, especially in the province of La Pampa; this is reason why its coat of arms contains an image of a Calden. It also grows in San Luis, Cordoba, Mendoza, and Southwest Buenos Aires. If you wish to visit the natural environment of the calden tree, you can go to Parque Nacional Lihué Calel.