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The Chilean Peso Symbol has a rich history that dates back to 1817, when it was first introduced as the official currency of Chile.
The symbol "CLP" is used to represent the Chilean Peso, and it's a widely recognized abbreviation in the financial world.
In Chile, the Peso is divided into 100 centésimos, which are the smallest denomination of the currency.
The Chilean Peso has undergone several changes over the years, including a significant devaluation in 1973 that led to the introduction of a new currency, the Peso Chileno.
For more insights, see: Chilean Pesos
Denominations
The Chilean peso has a diverse range of denominations.
In 1975, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 50 centavos and 1 peso. The 1, 5, and 10 centavo coins were very similar to the 10, 50, and 100 escudo coins they replaced.
Today, coins in circulation are in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500 pesos. The 1 peso coin is rare, and most retailers tend to use prices that are multiples of 10 pesos, ignoring smaller amounts.
The 5 and 10 peso coins were introduced in 1976, followed by 50 and 100 peso coins in 1981 and by a bi-metallic 500 peso coin in 2000.
Recommended read: Mexican Peso Coins Value
Historical Periods
The Chilean peso has a rich history that spans over two centuries. The first peso was introduced in 1817, during the period of the Chilean War of Independence.
The Chilean peso was pegged to the US dollar in 1959, a move that helped stabilize the economy. This decision was made to attract foreign investment and boost trade.
The peso has undergone several changes in its design and denomination over the years, with the most recent update in 2018.
Banknotes
The first Chilean paper money was issued between 1840 and 1844 by the treasury of the Province of Valdivia, in denominations of 4 and 8 reales.
In the 1870s, a number of private banks began issuing paper money, including the Banco Agricola, the Banco de la Alianza, and others, with denominations including 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 500 pesos.
One bank, the Banco de A. Edwards y Ca., also issued notes denominated in pounds sterling (libra esterlina), which is quite unusual.
For more insights, see: Mexican Pesos Denominations
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In 1881, the government issued paper money convertible into silver or gold, in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 1000 pesos.
The Banco Central de Chile began issuing notes in 1925, with the first being overprints on government notes in denominations of 5, 10, 50, 100, and 1000 pesos.
Regular notes were introduced between 1931 and 1933, in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000, and 10,000 pesos.
The 50,000 peso note was added in 1958, and it's interesting to note how the denominations have increased over time.
In 1976, banknotes were introduced in denominations of 5, 10, 50, and 100 pesos, with the reverses of the two lowest denominations resembling those of the 5000- and 10,000-escudo notes they replaced.
Since then, much higher denominations have been introduced, including the 5000-peso note in 1977, the 1000-peso note in 1978, and the 20,000-peso note in 1998.
The 1000-peso note was redesigned and issued in 2011, and it's now made of polymer, which is a more secure material.
Only the 10,000 and 20,000 peso notes are still printed on cotton paper, while the rest are made of polymer, which is a significant change.
For another approach, see: 20usd to Mexican Pesos
First, 1817–1960
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The first Chilean peso was introduced in 1817, at a value of 8 Spanish colonial reales. The peso was subdivided into 8 reales until 1851, when the real and escudo denominations ceased to be issued.
In 1835, copper coins denominated in centavos were introduced, but it was not until 1851 that the real and escudo denominations stopped being issued. Copper coins and décimos, worth 10 centavos, were then issued.
The peso was set equal to 5 French francs on the silver standard in 1851, which meant it was worth 22.5 grams of pure silver. However, gold coins were issued to a different standard, with 1 peso equal to 1.37 grams of gold.
From 1925, coins and banknotes were issued denominated in cóndores, worth 10 pesos. The gold standard was suspended in 1932, causing the peso's value to fall further.
For your interest: Japanese Yen Currency Value
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the symbol for peso in Chile?
The symbol for peso in Chile is $, which is also the currency symbol for the Chilean Peso.
How do you write Chilean Pesos?
You write Chilean Pesos as CLP$ or use the symbol $.
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