Austral (1985-1991) Coin List
The Austral was the official currency of Argentina from June 14, 1985 until December 31, 1991. This new currency was introduced as part of the Austral Plan, an economic program designed to combat the hyperinflation affecting the country. During its short existence, the Austral experienced several fluctuations and faced significant economic challenges.
Characteristics and design of the Austral coins
Austral coins were minted in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 50 cents, as well as 1, 5 and 10 australes. These pieces featured designs that reflected Argentina's national identity, including historical figures, patriotic symbols and elements of local flora and fauna. For example, the 1 austral coin showed the portrait of General José de San Martín, while the 10 australes coin displayed the National Coat of Arms. The minting quality of these coins was remarkable, using nickel and copper alloys for their manufacture. However, due to the rapid devaluation of the currency, the lower denominations soon lost their practical value in daily circulation.
Economic impact and legacy of the Austral
Despite initial efforts, the Austral failed to contain inflation in the long run. The Argentine economy continued to face significant challenges during this period, leading to successive currency devaluations. As a result, bills of increasingly higher denominations were issued, reaching up to 500,000 australes. Persistent economic instability culminated in the replacement of the Austral by the Convertible Peso in 1992. Nevertheless, the Austral period left an important legacy in Argentina's monetary history. Coins from this era have become objects of interest to collectors and numismatists, representing a crucial chapter in the country's economic evolution and serving as a tangible reminder of the challenges faced during those turbulent years.
The most valuable and popular coins
The most valuable Austral (1985-1991) coins and sought after by collectors according to Foronum statistics are the following:
The valuation of these coins list has been achieved through a meticulous algorithm that considers the current market, taking into account aspects such as material, weight, diameter, edge, year of mintage, mint of manufacture and the number of coins produced. Coins with limited mintages and in good condition are usually among the most valuable.
Old coins of Argentina
To facilitate their classification, we have decided to organise the coins according to their historical period, you can consult the coins by historical numismatic categories of Argentina.
Peso Fuerte 1826-1881 Local Currency 1881-1969 Peso Law 18.188 1970-1983 Argentine Peso 1983-1985 Austral 1985-1991 Peso 1992-?Coin Catalog
Argentina | 1/2 centavo
Argentina | 1 centavo
Argentina | 1 centavo
Argentina | 5 centavos
Argentina | 5 centavos
Argentina | 10 centavos
Argentina | 50 centavos
Argentina | 1 austral
Argentina | 5 australes
Argentina | 10 australes
Argentina | 100 australes
Argentina | 500 australes
Argentina | 1.000 australes
Argentina | 1.000 australes (Encounter of Two Worlds)
Other resources to find coins and banknotes of Argentina
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