Argentinos oro (1881-1896)

Law 1130 on the unification of national coinage was passed in 1881 and established the convertibility of the national currency to gold and the issuance of a coin known as “argentino oro.” This coin equaled $m/n 5 (five pesos moneda nacional), almost like the British Sovereign (99.12%). Convertibility was interrupted in 1885 and reintroduced, once again, in 1899 by virtue of Law 3871, which provided for a $1 oro/$m/n 2.2727 parity.

The peso moneda nacional and the US dollar remained virtually at par level ($m/n 2.35 equaled 1 US dollar) from 1899 to 1929. However, the peso moneda nacional recorded some fluctuations as from 1914 (when, even though convertibility was suspended, the gold standard “rules of the game” remained in effect) to 1927 when it was legally reintroduced to be finally abandoned in 1929.

5 pesos

Obverse design

The center displays the national coat of arms surrounded by the flags of the 14 provinces that existed at the time of its issuance and the legend “REPUBLICA ARGENTINA” (ARGENTINE REPUBLIC) together with the year of issuance.

Reverse design

It displays the image of the Head of Liberty (Libertad de Oudiné) surrounded by the phrase “LIBERTAD * 5 PESOS * UN ARGENTINO * 9 Dos FINO.”