Mexican Currency Overview
Having some familiarity with Mexican currency before your arrival can help avoid confusion when it comes time to pay for purchases. Mexico’s currency is the Mexican Peso, and its ISO code is MXN. There are one hundred Mexican centavos in each peso. Mexican bills are of varied colors and depict a variety of important Mexican historical figures.
Understanding the Mexican Peso
The banknotes are printed in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 pesos. Twenty and 50 peso bills are printed on polymer plastic, allowing you to go swimming with them without worry. Higher denomination bills are printed on paper and include several security features that assist in identifying genuine bills from counterfeits. These features include a watermark displaying the portrait of the individual on the bill and the denomination, in addition to a unique texture compared to regular paper.
The symbol for the Mexican Peso, denoted as $ or MX$, can lead to confusion with the dollar sign. To clarify the currency, you may sometimes see it referred to as MX$ or with the letters “MN” after it (e.g., $100 MN). The letters MN stand for Moneda Nacional, which translates to “National Currency.” Observing photos of Mexican bills helps in recognizing what Mexican money looks like.
Denominations of Mexican Money
High Denominations: 1000 and 500 Pesos
1000 Pesos
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753 – 1811) is depicted on the face of the Mexican one thousand peso bill. He is recognized as the father of Mexican independence, having played a crucial role at the beginning of Mexico’s War of Independence. This denomination is rarely seen, so if you receive it, ensure to use it in transactions for large bills at restaurants, hotels, or shops.
500 Pesos note (issued in 2010)
In celebration of the centenary of the Mexican Revolution and the bicentennial of Mexican Independence in 2010, this 500 peso note features renowned Mexican muralist Diego Rivera on the front and his celebrated wife, the painter Frida Kahlo, on the reverse side.
Lower Denominations: 200, 100, 50, and 20 Pesos
200 Pesos
The face of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, a notable writer, poet, and nun from Mexico’s colonial era, is featured on the Mexican two hundred peso bill.
100 Pesos
Nezahualcoyotl, a poet-king from the Prehispanic period, is depicted on the 100 peso bill. A special commemorative one hundred peso note was released in 2017, celebrating the centennial of the constitution.
50 Pesos
Jose Maria Morelos, a priest and field marshal during Mexico’s War of Independence, is depicted on the fifty peso bill. This note has been printed on polymer since its introduction in 2006, allowing for enhanced durability compared to paper money.
20 Pesos
The twenty peso bill features great statesman Benito Juarez. Notably, Juarez was the only full-blooded native person to serve as president and is often regarded as one of Mexico’s greatest leaders.
