Honduran lempira

Honduran lempira
lempira hondureño (Spanish)
ISO 4217
Code	HNL (numeric: 340)
Subunit	0.01
Unit
Symbol	L‎
Denominations
Banknotes	L1, L2, L5, L10, L20, L50, L100, L200, L500
Coins	5, 10, 20, 50 centavos
Demographics
User(s)	Honduras
Issuance
Central bank	Central Bank of Honduras
Website	www.bch.hn
Printer	Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych (pl)
Website	Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych
Valuation
Inflation	7.7%
Source	Central Bank of Honduras, June 2011.

Short description: Currency of Honduras

The lempira (/lɛmˈpɪrə/, sign: L, ISO 4217 code: HNL;Spanish pronunciation: [lemˈpiɾa]) is the currency of Honduras. It is subdivided into 100 centavos.^[2]

Etymology

The lempira was named after the 16th-century cacique Lempira, a ruler of the indigenous Lenca people, who is renowned in Honduran folklore for leading the local native resistance against the Spanish conquistador forces. He is a national hero and is honored on both the 1 lempira note and the 20 and 50 centavos coins.

History

The lempira was introduced in 1931, replacing the peso at par. In the late 1980s, the exchange rate was two lempiras to the United States dollar (the 20-centavos coin is called a daime as it was worth the same as a U.S. dime). As of April 4, 2022, the lempira was quoted at 24.40 HNL to US$1.^[3]

Coins

5 centavos coin minted in 1989

In 1931, coins were introduced in denominations of 5, 20 & 50 centavos, and 1 lempira. One, 2 and 10 centavos coins were added in 1935, 1939 and 1932, respectively. The silver 1 lempira coins ceased production in 1937, with the other silver coins (20 & 50 centavos) replaced by cupro-nickel in 1967. The 1 and 2 centavos coins were last minted in 1998 and 1974, respectively.

Coins currently in circulation are^[4]^[5]

5 centavos
10 centavos
20 centavos
50 centavos

Banknotes

The Bank of Honduras and the Banco Atlantida issued the first lempira banknotes in 1932. They were in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 lempiras. The Central Bank of Honduras took over production of paper money in 1950, introducing 50 and 100 lempiras notes in 1950, followed by the 500-lempiras note in 1995.

In January, 2010, a new 20-lempira note was introduced to market made by a polymer base, 60 million notes were issued.^[6]

In celebration of the Bicentennial anniversary of Honduras's independence, a new 200 lempira bill was issued.^[7] It features 2 scarlet macaws, the national bird of Honduras.^[8]

Banknotes in circulation are^[9]^[5]

Value	Color	Dimensions	Obverse	Reverse
L1	Red	156 × 67 mm	Lempira	Copán
L2	Purple		Marco Aurelio Soto	Amapala
L5	Gray		Francisco Morazán	Battle of La Trinidad
L10	Brown		José Trinidad Cabañas	Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras
L20	Green		Dionisio de Herrera	Presidential palace
L50	Blue		Juan Manuel Gálvez	Central Bank of Honduras
L100	Orange		José Cecilio del Valle	Casa Valle
L200	Turquoise		2 Scarlet Macaws	Banco Central de Honduras
L500	Violet		Ramón Rosa	San Juancito