Collection | Highlights

The Argentine flag and its creator

Thematic selection of pieces

At the Museum of the BCRA you will find pieces related to our national symbols and influential public figures in Argentina. Below are commemorative pieces honoring our national flag and its creator, Manuel Belgrano.

Manuel Belgrano was born in Buenos Aires on June 3, 1770. He was an economist, journalist, politician, lawyer, and military leader. He created the Argentine flag in Rosario, on February 27, 1812, during the revolutionary movements of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata towards independence.

In Argentina, we commemorate the creation of our national symbol on June 20. This day is a public holiday in honor of its creator, who died on that day in 1820.*

The following rooms display commemorative pieces:

Room 4 | Argentine currency at present

In this room, you can see pieces of the current line, which display pictures of the flag or its creator: the 10-peso banknote and the 50-peso banknote.

10 pesos convertibles, reverse design. The foreground design is engraved in intaglio and the background, in offset. The Monument to the Flag, General Belgrano’s abridged biography in micro letters, a drum and typical knitting from the north of Argentina are displayed.

10 pesos, obverse design | 2016. The foreground design is engraved in intaglio and the background, in offset. The center displays General Manuel Belgrano’s portrait and the background shows, as a security measure, a picture of the front part of the Monument to the Flag.

10 pesos, reverse design | 2016. The foreground design is engraved in intaglio and the background, in offset. The main figure recalls the creation of the flag—the hoisting of the national flag for the first time—and shows the picture of Juana Azurduy.

50 pesos, reverse design. The foreground design is engraved in intaglio and the background, in offset. The main figure depicts gaucho Antonio Rivero holding the Argentine flag.

Room 3 | Conservative republic and the 20th century

In this room you will find five pieces:

10 pesos convertibles, obverse design. The foreground design is engraved in intaglio and the background, in offset. The center displays the hero’s portrait and the background features a replica of a report from General Belgrano to the government of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata.

10,000 pesos argentinos (1985). This banknote is printed in violet-bluish ink and measures 75 x 155 mm.

5 pesos Ley 18.188 (1971). This banknote is printed in blue ink and measures 75 x 155 mm.

10 pesos Ley 18.188 (1970). This banknote is printed in blue ink and measures 75 x 155 mm.

500 pesos. Banknote issued by domestic guaranteed banks, and restamped by the Caja de Conversión in 1891. It is printed in brown-pinkish and golden ink and measures 100 x 200 mm.

Room 2 | Independence and national organization

In this room, you will find the following piece:

200 pesos fuertes (1869).

* Source: Instituto Nacional Belgraniano. http://manuelbelgrano.gov.ar/