What is COP currency
The Colombian peso (sign: $; code: COP) is the currency of Colombia. Its ISO 4217 code is COP. The official peso symbol is $, with Col$[1]. also being used to distinguish it from other peso- and dollar-denominated currencies.
One peso is theoretically subdivided into one hundred centavos; however, because of high inflation in the 1970s and 1980s, all centavo coins minting was stopped in 1984. The 5, 10, 20 and 50 peso coins are still legal tender, but due to their low value and circulation, most cash transactions are rounded to the nearest 100 pesos.
COP Coins
Between 1837 and 1839, silver 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1, 2, and 8 real coins were introduced, along with gold 1, 2, and 16 pesos. These were mostly continuations of coins issued before 1837 in the name of the Republic of Colombia but with the escudo denominations replaced by pesos. In 1847, the currency was decimalized and coins were introduced in denominations of 1⁄2 and 1 décimo de real in copper and 1, 2, 8 and 10 reales in silver. 1⁄4 and 1⁄2 real coins followed in 1849 and 1850. In 1853, silver 1⁄2 and 1 décimo, and gold 10 peso coins were introduced, followed by 2 décimos in 1854 and 1 peso in 1855, both in silver. In 1856, gold 5 peso coins were added.
Between 1859 and 1862, coins were issued by the Grenadine Confederation in silver for 1⁄4, 1⁄2 and 2 reales, 1⁄4, 1⁄2 and 1 décimo, and 1 peso, and in gold for 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 pesos. The United States of New Grenada issued silver 1 décimo and 1 peso in 1861.
Beginning in 1862, coins were issued by the United States of Colombia. Silver coins were struck in denominations of 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1, 2, and 5 décimos, and 1 peso, together with gold 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 pesos. With the introduction of the centavo in 1872, silver 2+1⁄2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 centavos were issued, followed by cupro-nickel 1+1⁄4 centavos in 1874 and cupro-nickel 2+1⁄2 centavos in 1881.
In 1886, the country’s name reverted to the Republic of Colombia. The first issues were cupro-nickel 5 centavos. Except for silver 50 centavos (also denominated 5 décimos) issued between 1887 and 1889, no other denominations were issued until 1897, when silver 10 and 20 centavos were introduced. Silver 5 centavos were issued in 1902
In 1907, following the stabilization of the paper money, cupro-nickel 1, 2 and 5 pesos p/m were introduced and issued until 1916. In 1913, after the pegging of the peso to sterling, gold 2+1⁄2 and 5 peso coins were introduced which were of the same weight and composition as the half sovereign and sovereign. Gold 10 pesos were also issued in 1919 and 1924, with the 2+1⁄2 and 5 pesos issued until 1929 and 1930, respectively.
In 1918, the 1, 2 and 5 pesos p/m coins were replaced by 1, 2 and 5 centavo coins of the same size and composition. In 1942, bronze 1 and 5 centavo coins were introduced, followed by bronze 2 centavos in 1948. Between 1952 and 1958, cupro-nickel replaced silver in the 10, 20 and 50 centavos.
In 1967, copper-clad-steel 1 and 5 centavos were introduced, together with nickel-clad-steel 10, 20 and 50 centavos and cupro-nickel 1 peso coins, the 2 centavos having ceased production in 1960. In 1977, bronze 2 pesos were introduced. In 1984, production of all coins below 1 peso ended. Higher denominations were introduced in the following years of high inflation. 5 peso coins were introduced in 1980, followed by 10 pesos in 1981, 20 pesos in 1982, 50 pesos in 1986, 100 pesos in 1992, 200 pesos in 1994, 500 pesos in 1993 and 1000 pesos in 1996. However, due to massive counterfeiting problems, the 1000 pesos was withdrawn by stages. By 2002, the coin was out of circulation.
In February 2009, the central bank stopped the minting of 5, 10 and 20 peso coins. They were still legal tender, but due to their low value and circulation, most cash transactions were rounded to the nearest 50 pesos.
In 2012, the Bank of the Republic of Colombia issued a new series of coins with the 500 and 1000 peso coins now struck as Bi-metallic coins.
COP Banknotes
Between 1857 and 1880, five of Colombia’s then provinces, Bolívar, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Panama and Santander issued their own paper money. Denominations included 10¢ and 50¢, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 50 and 100 pesos.
In the early 1860s, banknotes were issued in denominations of 20¢ and 1, 2, 3, 10, 20 and 100 pesos, with all denominations also given in reales. In 1881, the Banco Nacional introduced notes for 20¢, and 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pesos. These were followed by 50¢ notes in 1882 and 10¢ in 1885. 1,000 peso notes were introduced in 1895 and 500 peso notes in 1900. In 1904, the Treasury took over paper money production, issuing 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 peso notes, followed by 1,000 pesos in 1908. In 1910, the Conversion Board introduced 50 and 100 peso notes, followed by 1, 2, 5 and 10 pesos in 1915.
More than sixty retail banks issued banknotes between 1865 and 1923. Denominations issued included 10¢, 20¢, 25¢, 50¢, and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100 and 500 pesos.
In 1923, the Banco de la República monopolized paper money production and introduced notes denominated in peso oro. The first were provisional issues, overprinted on earlier notes of the Casa de Moneda de Medellín, in denominations of 2½, 5, 10 and 20 pesos. Regular issues followed for 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500 pesos oro. Twenty peso notes were introduced in 1927.
In 1932 and 1941, silver certificates were issued for 1 and 5 pesos plata, although 1 and 5 peso oro notes continued to be produced. Treasury notes for 5 and 10 pesos oro were issued in 1938, followed by ½ peso oro between 1948 and 1953. Half peso oro notes were also produced by the Banco de la República in 1943 by cutting in half 1 peso notes.
The Banco de la República introduced 200 and 1,000 peso oro notes in 1974 and 1979, respectively, whilst 1 and 2 peso oro notes ceased production in 1977, followed by 10 pesos oro in 1980, 5 pesos oro in 1981, 20 pesos in 1983 and 50 pesos in 1986. 500 pesos oro notes were introduced in 1986 with 10,000 pesos oro in 1992. Production of 100 peso oro notes ended in 1991, followed by that of the 200 pesos oro in 1992 and 500 pesos oro in 1993. In 1993, the word oro was dropped. 20,000 peso notes were introduced in 1996, followed by 50,000 pesos in 2000.
In November 2006, the 1,000 and 2,000 peso notes were reduced in size from 140 × 70 mm to 130 × 65 mm, because these notes are frequently replaced due to heavy use.
In December 2010, the Banco de la República issued a 2,000 peso note that now includes the number “2” expressed in Braille in the watermark area.[4]
In 2016, the Banco de la Republica issued a new series of banknotes in denominations of 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 pesos, with the latter being a new and the highest denomination. These banknotes give continuity of biodiversity present in the new series of coins that began circulating in 2012, while highlighting a group of cultural elements and landscapes of Colombia’s geography. Additionally, the notes pay tribute to major personalities of culture, science and politics, and reinforces recognition of women’s important role in Colombian society.[5] The new 100,000 pesos banknote was introduced on 31 March 2016,[6] followed by the 20,000 pesos note on 30 June 2016,[7][8] the 50,000 pesos note on 19 August 2016,[9][10] the 5,000 pesos note on 9 November 2016,[11] and the 2,000 pesos note on 29 November 2016.[12] The 10,000 pesos note was issued on 7 December 2016, completing the new banknote series.