The BCRA has announced that, beginning in mid-2016, it will introduce banknotes of higher denominations, specifically ARS200 and ARS500. Furthermore, it has anticipated that next year, the ARS1,000 banknote will be released into circulation.
With the introduction of the new higher denomination banknotes, the BCRA will also release the updated series of the ARS20, ARS50, and ARS100 banknotes in 2017. The new banknotes series will temporarily circulate alongside the existing banknotes.
The introduction of higher denomination banknotes is essential for enhancing the efficiency of ATMs and for reducing the costs associated with cash transfers.
In any case, the BCRA will promote the adoption of electronic means of payment for transactions and will actively advance in this direction in the near future.
The new banknote series will feature native Argentine fauna and highlight various regions of Argentina. The obverse of each banknote features the image of an animal native to each Argentine region, while the reverse depicts their habitat.
Through these banknotes, the BCRA aims to celebrate the generosity of Argentina’s natural environment and underscore the importance of preserving and promoting biodiversity.
With animals from different regions of Argentina, the BCRA tries to find common ground so that every Argentinian may feel represented in the national currency.
The images used on each banknote are as follows:
– ARS1,000 banknote: Rufous hornero (Argentina’s national bird). Central region.
– ARS500 banknote: Jaguar. Northeast region.
– ARS200 banknote: Southern right whale. Argentine sea, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands.
– ARS100 banknote: Taruca. Northwest region.
– ARS50 banknote: Condor. Andean region
– ARS20 banknote: Guanaco. Patagonian steppe.
In addition, a new set of coins consisting of ARS1, ARS2, ARS5 and ARS10 will be minted and put into circulation in 2017.
The new Peso series has a vertical design on the obverse and a horizontal layout on the reverse. When viewed vertically, the ARS200 banknote’s obverse displays, in the center, an artistic recreation of a whale emerging from the water. The silhouette of the same image appears in the upper right-hand corner with the number “200” and the text “DOSCIENTOS PESOS” (TWO HUNDRED PESOS), along with the text “BALLENA FRANCA AUSTRAL MONUMENTO NATURAL NACIONAL” (SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE NATIONAL NATURAL MONUMENT).
Similarly, the ARS500 banknote’s obverse features the image of a jaguar, with the same vertical layout. The silhouette of the jaguar also appears in the upper right corner with the number “500”, and the text “QUINIENTOS PESOS” (FIVE HUNDRED PESOS), along with the text “YAGUARETÉ MONUMENTO NATURAL NACIONAL” (JAGUAR NATIONAL NATURAL MONUMENT).
Sketches of the ARS200 and ARS500 banknotes are shown below. The final design will be made public at the time they enter into circulation:
Sketch of the ARS200 banknote | Obverse
Sketch of the ARS200 banknote | Reverse
Sketch of the ARS500 banknote | Reverse
Sketch of the ARS500 banknote | Obverse
