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Like the current Peruvian banknotes, the Peruvian coins in circulation reflect the country's rich historical and cultural past, but additionally as well Peru’s abundance of natural wealth. Their high-quality and beautiful designs, together with top minting techniques, earned the Peruvian coins the one or other prestigious award.
Since 1991, the Peruvian currency is the “Nuevo Sol” (S/.), which was renamed to just “Sol” (S/) in 2016. It’s subdivided into 100 centimos (cents). Issued by the Peruvian Central Reserve Bank (BCRP) there are coins for 10, 20 and 50 centimos as well as 1 Sol, 2 Soles and 5 Soles.
Please note: the 1 centimo coins initially issued in 1991 and following years were removed from circulation in 2011 and the 5 centimos coins in 2019.
While the 10, 20 and 50 centimos coins have remained unchanged since their introduction in 1991, the 1, 2 and 5 (Nuevo) Soles coins have undergone some design changes over the past 30 years.
10 centimos – Current Peruvian coins
The front of the Peruvian 10 centimos coin shows its denomination and to the left and right ancient reliefs found at the archaeological site of Chan Chan, the capital of the Chimú Empire and largest pre-Colombian city in the Americas near present-day Trujillo.
The back shows the Peruvian Coat of Arms surrounded by the lettering "Banco Central de la Reserva del Peru" (Central Reserve Bank of Peru) and the year of minting.
Specifications of the Peruvian 10 centimos coin
- Value: 10 centimos (S/ 0.10)
- Diameter: 20.5 mm
- Thickness: 1.26 mm
- Mass: 3.5 g
- Material: Brass
- Edge: smooth
- Front image: denomination and reliefs from Chan Chan
- Back image: Peruvian Coat of Arms
- Legal tender: Yes
Chan Chan Archaeological Zone
20 Centimos – Current Peruvian coins
The front of the Peruvian 20 centimos coin shows its denomination and to the left and right ancient reliefs found at the archaeological site of Chan Chan, the capital of the Chimú Empire and largest pre-Colombian city in the Americas near present-day Trujillo.
The back shows the Peruvian Coat of Arms surrounded by the lettering "Banco Central de la Reserva del Peru" (Central reserve Bank of Peru) and the year of minting.
Specifications of the Peruvian 20 centimos coin
- Value: 20 centimos (S/ 0.20)
- Diameter: 23 mm
- Thickness: 1.26 mm
- Mass: 4.4 g
- Material: Brass
- Edge: smooth
- Front image: denomination and reliefs from Chan Chan
- Back image: Peruvian Coat of Arms
- Legal tender: Yes
Chan Chan Archaeological Zone
50 Centimos – Current Peruvian coins
The front of the Peruvian 50 centimos coin shows its denomination, to the left an intertwined laurel and oak branch and to the right the logo of the National Mint (Casa de la Moneda).
The back shows the Peruvian Coat of Arms surrounded by the lettering "Banco Central de la Reserva del Peru" (Central reserve Bank of Peru) and the year of minting.
Specifications of the Peruvian 50 centimos coin
- Value: 50 centimos (S/ 0.50)
- Diameter: 22 mm
- Thickness: 1.65 mm
- Mass: 5.45 g
- Material: Alpacca (copper, nickel, zinc)
- Edge: reeded
- Front image: denomination, laurel/oak-branch, logo
- Back image: Peruvian Coat of Arms
- Legal tender: Yes
1 (Nuevo) Sol – Current Peruvian coins
The 1 (Nuevo) Sol coin comes in many designs.
The front of the Peruvian 1 Nuevo Sol coins minted between 1991 and 2010 shows its denomination in writing, to the left an intertwined laurel and oak branch and to the right the logo of the National Mint (Casa de la Moneda).
In 2012, a new design of the 1 Nuevo Sol coin was issued. In the middle of the front is its denomination as number and below “Nuevo Sol”; to the left is the Marca Peru logo (PromPeru), and an intertwined laurel and oak branch; and to the right, the logo of the National Mint (Casa de la Moneda).
With the renaming of the currency from Nuevo Sol to just Sol in 2016, a new 1 Sol coin was issued. The overall design remained unchanged, with the large 1 in the middle of the front, the Marca Peru logo and the intertwined laurel and oak branch to the left and the logo of the National Mint (Casa de la Moneda) to the right. However, below the “1” now instead of Nuevo Sol, the word Sol can be found.
Special 1 (Nuevo) Sol coin series
Next to these “normal” 1 (Nuevo) Sol coins, the Peruvian Central Reserve Bank (BCRP) issued some absolutely beautiful 1 (Nuevo) Sol coin series to promote a numismatic culture with one of the most commonly used coins in the country:
Wealth and Pride of Peru Coin Series
Natural Resources of Peru Coin Series
Threatened Wildlife of Peru Coin Series
Builders of the Republic - Bicentenary 1821–2021 Coin Series
The Woman in the Process of Independence Coin Series
The back of all 1 (Nuevo) Sol coins shows the Peruvian Coat of Arms surrounded by the lettering "Banco Central de la Reserva del Peru" (Central Reserve Bank of Peru) and the year of minting.
All 1 (Nuevo) Sol coins are legal tender and circulate simultaneously.
Specifications of 1 (Nuevo) Sol coins
- Value: 1 (Nuevo) Sol (S/. 1 or S/ 1)
- Diameter: 25.5 mm
- Thickness: 1.92 mm
- Mass: 7.32 g
- Material: Alpaca (copper alloy with nickel and zinc)
- Edge: reeded
- Front image: diverse
- Back image: Peruvian Coat of Arms
- Legal tender: Yes
2 (Nuevos) Soles- Current Peruvian coins
All 2 (Nuevos) Soles coins are bi-metallic, with an outside ring made of Steel and a core made of alpaca (copper alloy with nickel and zinc). They come in 3 (slightly) unique designs:
The front of the Peruvian 2 Nuevos Soles coin minted between 1994 and 2009 shows a large “2” on the right of the core and on the left the image of the famous Colibri belonging to the Nazca Lines in the arid coastal plains of the Ica region in southern Peru. On the bottom edge of the core, the words “Nuevos Soles” are minted.
In 2010, a new design of the 2 Nuevos Soles was issued, mainly to impede forgery. On the front, the denomination as number is minted with the “2” on the right of the core and on the outer ring. On the left two overlapping images of the Nasca Lines Colibri are featured with the left wing and tail of the outer one being on the outer stainless-steel ring. The word “Nuevos” is on the bottom edge of the core, while the word “Soles” is minted on top of vertical lines on the outer ring. A horizontal ribbon with a pre-Columbian design spans across the top of the coin.
With the renaming of the currency from Nuevo Sol to just Sol in 2016, a new 2 Soles coin was issued. The overall design remained unchanged with the “2” on the right, the two Colibris on the left and the horizontal ribbon on the top. However, on the bottom edge instead of “Nuevos Soles” now only the word “Soles” is minted.
The back of all 2 (Nuevos) Soles coins shows the Peruvian Coat of Arms surrounded by the lettering "Banco Central de la Reserva del Peru" (Central Reserve Bank of Peru) and the year of minting.
All 2 (Nuevos) Soles coins are legal tender and circulate simultaneously.
Specifications of 2 (Nuevos) Soles coins
- Value: 2 (Nuevo) Soles (S/. 2 or S/ 2)
- Diameter: 22.3 mm
- Thickness: 2.1 mm
- Mass: 5.62 g
- Material: Bimetallic - outside ring: Steel; center: Alpaca (copper alloy with nickel and zinc)
- Edge: smooth
- Front image: denomination and Nazca Lines Colibri
- Back image: Peruvian Coat of Arms
- Legal tender: Yes
5 (Nuevos) Soles- Current Peruvian coins
All 5 (Nuevos) Soles coins are as the 2 (Nuevos) Soles coins bi-metallic with an outside ring made of Steel and a core made of alpaca (copper alloy with nickel and zinc). They come in 3 unique designs:
The front of the Peruvian 5 Nuevos Soles coin minted between 1994 and 2009 shows a large “5” on the right of the core and on the left the image of the famous Frigate Bird belonging to the Nazca Lines located in the arid coastal plains of the Ica region in southern Peru. On the bottom edge of the core the words “Nuevos Soles” are minted.
In 2010 a new design of the 5 Nuevos Soles was issued, mainly to impede forgery. On the front the denomination as number is minted with the “5” on the right of the core and on the outer ring. On the left the Nasca Lines Frigate Bird is featured with the left wing and tail being on the outer stainless-steel ring. The word “Nuevos” is on the bottom edge of the core, while the word “Soles” is minted on top of vertical lines on the outer ring. A horizontal ribbon with a pre-Columbian design spans across the top of the coin.
When the Nuevo Sol was renamed to just Sol in 2016, new 5 Soles coins were issued. The new 5 Soles coin now features the “5” on the left of the core slightly overlapping into the outer ring while the Frigate Bird moved to the right with its right wing and tail being on the outer stainless-steel ring. On the bottom edge instead of “Nuevos Soles” now only the word “Soles” is minted. On the left of the outer ring are eight vertical zigzag lines, on the right eight times the word “Peru” in micro lettering.
The back of all 5 (Nuevos) Soles coins show the Peruvian Coat of Arms surrounded by the lettering "Banco Central de la Reserva del Peru" (Central Reserve Bank of Peru) and the year of minting.
All 5 (Nuevos) Soles coins are legal tender and circulate simultaneously.
Specifications of 5 (Nuevos) Soles coins
- Value: 5 (Nuevos) Soles (S/. 5 or S/ 5)
- Diameter: 24.3 mm
- Thickness: 2.1 mm
- Mass: 6.67 g
- Material: Bimetallic - outside ring: Steel; core: Alpaca (copper alloy with nickel and zinc)
- Edge: reeded
- Front image: denomination and Nazca Lines Frigate Bird
- Back image: Peruvian Coat of Arms
- Legal tender: Yes
