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The Mexican peso is the official currency of Mexico, and it's widely accepted throughout the country. The peso is divided into 100 centavos, but coins and bills are rarely used in combination.
One peso is equivalent to 100 centavos. You can find coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 pesos, as well as bills in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 pesos.
The Mexican peso is a widely traded currency, and its value can fluctuate depending on the exchange rate.
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Mexico's Currency
Mexico's currency is the Mexican peso, denoted by the symbol $, and its international currency code is MXN. The peso is divided into 100 centavos.
The Mexican peso is a free-floating currency, meaning its value fluctuates daily against other world currencies. This can make it challenging to exchange or use pesos when traveling to Mexico.
You'll often see the Mexican peso denoted as MX$ or with the letters "MN" after it, which stands for Moneda Nacional, or National Currency. This is done to distinguish it from the US dollar.
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Mexico's banknotes are printed in denominations of 20-, 50-, 100-, 200-, 500-, and 1,000-peso bills, with the 50-, 100-, and 200-peso bills being the most commonly used.
The country's coins are minted in denominations of 50 cents, 1-peso, 2-pesos, 5-pesos, 10-pesos, and occasionally 20-pesos. However, the old 20-cent coins are now out of circulation.
Here's a list of common banknote denominations in Mexico:
- 20-peso bill
- 50-peso bill
- 100-peso bill
- 200-peso bill
- 500-peso bill
- 1,000-peso bill
The value of old Mexican banknotes can be a bit tricky to determine, but it's worth researching if you're looking to exchange or collect them.
Managing Money in Mexico
Managing money in Mexico can be a bit tricky, but don't worry, I've got some tips to help you navigate it.
Carry cash in small notes, especially in rural areas or at markets, as credit cards are not always accepted. Large bills are also not easily changed by smaller dealers.
In tourist areas, US dollars can be easily exchanged for Mexican pesos at local banks or exchange offices (casas de cambio). These offices often have longer opening times and less bureaucratic processing compared to banks.
The most common banks in Mexico are Bancomer, Banamex, HSBC, and Santander. The US dollar is the easiest currency to exchange, followed by the euro in larger towns and tourist regions.
Here are the most commonly used Mexican banknotes and coins:
- Banknotes: 20-, 50-, 100-, 200-, 500-, and 1,000-peso bills
- Coin denominations: 50 cents, 1-peso, 2-pesos, 5-pesos, 10-pesos, and $20-peso coins
Managing Money in Mexico
In Mexico, it's a good idea to always carry cash in small notes, especially in rural areas, at stalls, or at markets, as credit cards are often not accepted.
The Mexican peso is the local currency, and you can exchange US dollars or euros in tourist areas, such as larger cities or tourist regions. However, the exchange rate is heavily dependent on the US dollar.
You should plan to take a little more cash with you if you're staying outside of larger cities for a longer period of time.
The most common banks in Mexico are Bancomer, Banamex, HSBC, and Santander, which can be found in tourist areas and larger cities.
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To exchange money, you can visit local banks or exchange offices (casas de cambio), which have longer opening times compared to banks and less bureaucratic processing of money exchange.
It's worth comparing exchange rates for larger sums of money, as the rates at the airport are usually not as good as in the inner cities.
Here's a summary of the most common denominations of Mexico's banknotes:
The value of old Mexican banknotes can be discovered, and the current value of Mexico's peso can be found.
First
The peso has a rich history, dating back to the Spanish Empire. The first peso was actually a name given to the eight-real coins issued in Mexico by Spain.
These coins, known as Spanish dollars or pieces-of-eight, were widely circulated in the Americas and Asia. They remained in circulation until the early 19th century.
After Mexico gained independence in 1821, the new government continued the Spanish monetary system. This system included 16 silver reales equalling 1 gold escudo, with the peso of eight reals being the largest denomination.
In 1863, the first issue of coins denominated in centavos occurred. These coins were worth one hundredth of a peso.
Coins denominated in reales remained circulated until 1897. The peso's gold content was reduced by 49.3% in 1905.
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Currency Overview
The Mexican peso is the official currency of Mexico, and it's represented by the symbol $. It's also known as MXN, and to avoid confusion with the US dollar, you might see it written as MX$ or with the letters "MN" after it, standing for Moneda Nacional, or National Currency.
The Mexican peso is a free-floating currency, which means its value against other world currencies fluctuates daily. The bank of Mexico is responsible for printing, minting, and managing the country's physical currency. Mexico's banknotes are printed in denominations of 20-, 50-, 100-, 200-, 500-, and 1,000-peso bills, with the 50-, 100-, and 200-peso bills being the most commonly used.
Here are the current denominations of Mexican coins and banknotes:
- Coins: 5 centavos, 10 centavos, 20 centavos, 50 centavos, 1 peso, 2 pesos, 5 pesos, 10 pesos
- Banknotes: 20 pesos, 50 pesos, 100 pesos, 200 pesos, 500 pesos, 1,000 pesos
Currency
The Mexican peso is the official currency of Mexico, and it's denoted by the symbol $, with the international currency code MXN.
The Mexican peso is a "free floating" currency, meaning its value against other world currencies fluctuates daily. This can affect the exchange rate when converting to other currencies.
You can find the Mexican peso in various denominations, including 20-, 50-, 100-, 200-, 500-, and 1,000-peso bills. The most commonly used banknotes are the 50-, 100-, and 200-peso bills.
Mexico's coins are minted in denominations of 50 cents, 1-peso, 2-pesos, 5-pesos, 10-pesos, and there are also $20-peso coins in circulation. The current series of coins has remained unchanged for decades.
Here's a summary of the Mexican peso denominations:
- Banknotes: 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 pesos
- Coins: 50 cents, 1 peso, 2 pesos, 5 pesos, 10 pesos, and 20 pesos
The 1,000-peso banknote is rare, but it does exist. If you come across one, keep in mind that most small stores may not accept it due to change-making difficulties.
Commemorative Notes
Commemorative notes were introduced by the Bank of Mexico in 2010, featuring special designs and themes. These notes were released in two denominations: 100 and 200 pesos.
The 100-peso note commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution, which lasted from 1910 to 1920. The 200-peso note marks the 200th anniversary of the start of the Mexican War for Independence, which began in 1810.
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The 100-peso note has a notable printing error, where a quote from Francisco I Madero is misspelled. The quote "Sufragio efectivo no reelección" (Valid Suffrage, No Reelection) was supposed to be "Sufragio electivo y no reelección" (Elective suffrage and no reelection).
The Bank of Mexico apologized for the error, but the notes remain in circulation and retain their value.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you write Mexican Pesos?
The Mexican Peso is written with the symbol "$", the same as the US dollar. This shared symbol originated from the Spanish-Mexican currency.
Is the dollar sign used for Mexican Pesos?
The dollar sign ($) is sometimes used for Mexican Pesos, but it's often written as M$, MX$, or MEX$ to avoid confusion. This is because the $ symbol is also used by other currencies.
How much is $1 US in pesos?
As of 31/12/2024, 1 US Dollar is equivalent to 20.6511 Mexican Pesos. Check the live currency converter for the latest exchange rate and more conversion tools.
Sources
- https://www.mexperience.com/introduction-to-mexicos-peso-its-coins-banknotes/
- https://www.speaklikeamexican.com.mx/what-is-the-mexican-currency/
- https://currencies.fandom.com/wiki/Mexican_peso
- https://blog.remitly.com/currencies/6-facts-you-might-not-know-about-the-mexican-peso/
- https://www.tripsavvy.com/guide-to-mexican-money-1589008
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