Peru Begins Roll Out of New Series

The Banco Central de Reserva del Perú has unveiled the designs of its new banknote series with modern designs, new motifs and leading-edge security features.

Two of the notes – the 10 and 100 soles – have already been released, coinciding with Peru’s bicentennial anniversary. The 20 and 50 soles are expected to go into circulation in August or September, while the new 200 soles is planned for 2022.

Although the series that the new notes will be replacing was issued in 2009, with subsequent upgrades to some of the denominations, this is the first major redesign since 1991 when the current portraits were introduced.

The theme of the notes, which were designed by De La Rue, is dedicated to Peruvian 20th century figures in the arts, literature, history and science, with indigenous fauna and flora on the reverse. For the first time, the reverse side of the notes have a vertical orientation. Both notes also include tactile marks to help the blind identify the denomination.

The Peruvian singer and songwriter María Isabel Granda y Larco, better known as Chabuca Granda, appears on the front of the 10 soles in both the portrait and watermark. A Vicuña (a wild camelid native to the Andes) and the Amancaes flower appear on the reverse. It was produced by Perum Peruri.

A portrait of the Peruvian diplomat and scientist Pedro Paulet appears on the 100 soles, along with a watermark of his image. A Marvelous Spatula Tailed Hummingbird and orchid feature on the reverse. The printer was PWPW.

Both notes incorporate a 4mm RollingStar® security thread by Louisenthal, SICPA’s SPARK® Live and De La Rue’s GEMINI™ feature, which splits into two colours under UV light.

The new notes will co-circulate with the existing versions of their respective denominations.