Chilean Peso (CLP) Profile

Currency name
Currency code
Currency symbol

$, or CLP$

Subunit
1/100, centavos (until 1984)
Coins freq used
CLP$1, CLP$5, CLP$10, CLP$50, CLP$100, CLP$500
Coins rarely used
 
Banknotes freq used
CLP$1000, CLP$2000, CLP$5000, CLP$10000, CLP$20000
Banknotes rarely used
 
Central bank
Banco Central de Chile (www.bcentral.cl)
Currency users
Currency user list

Chilean peso users

The Chilean peso is the currency of Chile (officially the Republic of Chile) which locates southwest of South America.

Chile started its struggle for its independence from Spain since the establishment of First Government Junta on September 18, 1810 and finally declared independence on February 12, 1818.

Chile is a member of the Union of South American Nations (briefed as UZAN or UNASUL or UNASUR according to various languages) which is an intergovernmental union and was established on December 8, 2004, consisting of twelve members and 2 observers (Mexico and Panama). The Union of South American Nations expects to model the European Union and introduce a common currency, possibly by 2019. 

Currencies of Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), exchange rate: Feb.14th,2013
"UNASUR" Currency name Code 1USD= 1EUR= 1GBP=
Argentina Argentine peso ARS 5.00599 6.68764 7.75558
Bolivia Venezuelan bolívar fuerte BOB 6.90964 9.23015 10.7047
Brazil Brazilian real BRL 1.95928 2.61746 3.03543
Chile Chilean peso CLP 470.738 628.85 729.321
Colombia Colombian peso COP 1783.29 2382.35 2762.9
Ecuador United States dollar USD 1.00000 1.33592 1.54932
Guyana Guyanese dollar GYD 203.948 272.451 315.98
Paraguay Paraguayan guaraní PYG 4089.31 5462.93 6335.42
Peru Peruvian nuevo sol PEN 2.56899 3.43197 3.98019
Suriname Suriname dollar SRD 3.28713 4.39199 5.09252
Uruguay Uruguayan peso UYU 19.0398 25.4355 29.4978
Venezuela Venezuelan bolivar VEF 6.29375 8.40786 9.75069
Panama <2> Panamanian balboa PAB 1.00000 1.33592 1.54932
Mexico <2> Mexican peso MXN 12.6915 16.9561 10.6619

Notes:
<1>. The group expects to model the EU with a common currency by 2019.
<2>.  Mexico and Panama are observers of the Union of South American Nations.

Chilean peso history

The Chilean peso was introduced on September 29, 1975 and replaced the Chilean escudo (CLE) at a rate of 1 CLP =1000 CLE.

The Chilean escudo was used by Chile from 1960 to 1975 and replaced the previous peso (existed from 1817 to 1960) at a rate of 1 escudo =1000 pesos.  The first peso was issued in 1817. Before that, the Spanish reals were used. 

Chile currencies history (from the year of 1541 to present)
Currency name Code Introduced since (Being) used until Subunit or Superunit Notes
Chilean Peso (second) CLP 1975 present 1/100, centavos (until 1984) Chilean peso replaced the Chilean escudo at a rate of 1 CLP= 1000 CLE.
Chilean escudo CLE 1960 1975 1 escudo=100 centésimos Chilean escudo replaced the first peso (existed from 1817 to 1960) at a rate of 1 escudo = 1000 pesos.
Chilean peso (first) / 1817 1960 <See below> <See below details in different period. >
    1817 1851 1 peso =8 reals Gold escudo was issued from 1817 to 1851 worth 16 reales or 2 pesos. Until 1851, the real and gold escudo denominations ceased to be issued.
    1851 1885 1 décimos=10 centavos Peso was pegged with French francs at 1 peso equaled to 5 French francs on the silver standard of 22.5 g pure silver. Gold coins were set differently at 1 peso =1.37 grams gold ( 5 francs equalled 1.45 g gold.).
    1885 1925 1 décimos=10 centavos Since 1885, Peso was pegged with British pound at 1 pound = 13.5 pesos (1 peso= 1 shilling 6 pence) but reduced to 1 pound =40 pesos (1 peso =6 pence) in 1926.
    1925 1932 1 cóndores= 10 pesos Since 1925, coins and banknotes were denominated in cóndores woth 10 pesos. The gold standard was suspended in 1932 and peso's value kept on falling lower since then.
Spanish colonial reales / around 1541 1817 1 peso =8 reals Before 1817, the Spanish colonial reales circulated in Chile.

Chilean peso coins and banknotes

The Chilean peso is subdivided into 100 centavos but there has been discontinued in circulation since 1984.

Currently in circulation coins are in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 pesos, and banknotes are in denominations of 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000 pesos.

Chilean peso and the currency of peso

Peso was originally the name of Spanish dollar (also known as the piece of eight or the eight-real coin) which was issued by Spain and minted in the Spanish Empire. Hence, Peso has been a monetary unit used by many countries which were former Spanish colonies.

Countries currently using the peso (exchange rate as per:Feb.12th,2013)
Countries  Official country name Currency name Currency code Location- Continent 1 USD= Independence from Spain
Argentina Argentine Republic Argentine peso ARS South America 4.99699
1.Declared, 9 July 1816
2.Current federal constitution, 1 May 1853
Chile Republic of Chile Chilean peso CLP South America 472.248 1.Declared, 12 Feb.1818
2.Recognized, 25 April 1844
3.Current constitution, 11 Sep.1980
Colombia Republic of Colombia Colombian peso COP South America 1784.180 1.Declared, 20 July 1810
2.Recognized, 7 August 18193c.Current constitution, 4 July 1991
Cuba Republic of Cuba Cuban peso CUP North America 26.500 1.Declared, Oct.10 1868 from Spain
2.Republic declared, May 20,1902 from the U.S.
3.Cuban Revolution, Jan.1, 1959
Dominican Republic Republic of Cuba Dominican peso DOP North America 40.7299
1.from Spain, Dec.1, 1821
2.from Haiti, Feb.27,1844
3.from Spain, Aug.16, 1865
Mexico United Mexican States Mexican peso MXN North America 12.6875 1.Declared, Sep.16,1810
2.Recognized, Sep.27,1821
Philippines Republic of the Philippines Philippine peso PHP Asia 40.7299 1.Established, April 27,1565
2.Declared, June 12, 1898
3.Self-government, March 24,1934
4.Recognized, July 4,1946
5.Current constitution, Feb.2,1987
Uruguay Oriental Republic of Uruguay Uruguayan peso UYU South America 18.9999 Independence from the Empire of Brazil
1.Declaration, 25 August 1825
2.Recognition, 28 Aug. 1825
3.Constitution, 18 July 1830

Countries that previously used the peso (exchange rate as per:Feb.12th,2013)
Countries  Official country name Currency name Currency code Location- Continent 1 USD= Independence from Spain
Bolivia Plurinational State of Bolivia Bolivian boliviano BOB South America 6.90963 1.Declared, 6 August 1825
2.Recognized, 21 July 1847
3.Current constitution, 7 Feb.2009
Costa Rica Republic of Costa Rica Costa Rican colón CRC Central America 500.560 1.from Spain, Sep.15,1821
2.Recognizednby Spain, May 10,1850
3.Constitution, Nov.7,1949
Ecuador Republic of Ecuador United States dollar USD South America 1.000 1.Declared, Aug.10, 1809
2.from Spain, May 24,1822
3.Recognized, Feb.16,1830
Equatorial Guinea Republic of Equatorial Guinea Central African CFA franc XAF Africa 487.639 from Spain, 12 Oct.1968
EI Salvador Republic of El Salvador United States dollar USD North America 1.000 1.from Spain, Sep.15,1821
2.Recognized by Spain, June 24,1865
3.from the Greater Republic of Central America, 1898
Guatemala Republic of Guatemala Guatemalan quetzal GTQ North America 7.8445 1.Declared, 15 Sep.1821
2.Restored, 1 July 1823
3.Current constitution, 31 May 1985
Guinea-Bissau Republic of Guinea-Bissau West African CFA franc XOF Africa 487.641 Independence from Portugal
1.Declared, 24 Sep.1973
2.Recognized, 10 Sep.1974
Honduras Republic of Honduras Honduran lempira HNL North America 19.920 1.Declared, 15 Sep.1821
2.Declared 5 Nov.1838 as Honduras
Nicaragua Republic of Nicaragua Nicaraguan córdoba NIO North America 24.285 1.Declared, 15 Sep.1821
2.Current constitution, 9 Jan.1987
Paraguay Republic of Paraguay Paraguayan guaraní PYG South America 4114.51 1.Declared, 14 May 1811
2.Recognized, 15 May 1811
Peru Republic of Peru Peruvian nuevo sol PEN South America 2.58399 1.Declared, July 28,1821
2.Recognized, 14 August 1879
3.Current constitution, 31 Dec.1993
Venezuela Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Venezuelan bolívar VEF South America 4.300 1.from Spain, 5 July 1811
2.Recognized, 30 March 1845
3.Current Constitution, 20 Dec.1999
Spain Kingdom of Spain the Euro EUR Europe 1.34509 Current Constitutional democracy, 1978