Spanish money name. Currency and prices of Spain

Like most EU countries, the national currency of Spain is the euro.

Until 2002, pesetas (Peseta) were in circulation. The Spaniards still love their former national currency - older people often convert prices from euros to pesetas, and such price tags are often found in private shops.

If you have pesetas lying around, you can exchange them for euros at the National Bank of Spain.

What currency to take with you to Spain

You can freely bring 10,000 euros into Spain; a larger amount will have to be declared.

It’s better to immediately take euros to Spain, because exchanging rubles and dollars there is a real adventure. Firstly, not every bank will exchange currency; there are few exchange offices. Secondly, the euro exchange rate is very unfavorable, and the exchange commission is high. Many tourists note that buying euros is much easier than exchanging dollars.

Cashless payments and ATMs

IN major cities In Spain, cashless payments are not new; Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted almost everywhere. In small towns, paying by card may cause problems. The “risk group” includes souvenir shops, mini-hotels, private shops and cafes. Usually this is a family business whose owners do not want to deal with intermediaries.

It is believed that Spain is one of the three world leaders in the number of ATMs per capita, so withdrawing money from the card is not a problem. Messages on the ATM screen are always duplicated in English. Cash withdrawal fees vary by bank.

Before the euro appeared in Spain, the history of the country's currency was associated with three coins - the ral, the escudo and the peseta. By and large, all the changes that occurred with the Spanish currency were the result of the new naming antique coins, which later became full-fledged monetary units.

Real history

The real was the main currency in the Spanish kingdom for many centuries. Thus, it was introduced into use in the middle of the 14th century, and in 1864 it was replaced by escudo. Actually, the real was introduced by Pedro I, King of Castile. Thus, the real became a standardized coin, the equivalent of which was equal to three maravedis. By the way, maravedis are ancient Iberian coins that were minted from silver and gold. Eight reals were equal to one peso, which was also called the dollar. It began to be issued as a separate coin and was minted from silver. It must be said that Spanish coins circulated in almost all world markets, and were especially common in the markets of America and Asia.

History of the escudo

The word “escudo” was used to describe two types of coins: silver and gold. The first Spanish gold escudo coin was minted in 1566, and the last in 1833. Silver began to be minted in 1864 and before the appearance of a new coin - the peseta. At different times, the escudo was the equivalent of different amounts of reals.

History of the peseta

Pesetas have been in use throughout Spain since 1869, and were replaced by the euro in 2002. As for the etymology of the word “peseta” (Spanish peseta), its origin is associated with the diminutive form of the Catalan word “Peça”. So, "peçeta" literally means "piece". Initially, since the 15th century, this term denoted a silver coin, and in the Middle Ages it was used to name the value of 2 reals.

In October 1868, a decree was issued that regulated the peseta as the national currency in order to strengthen the Spanish economy, stabilize the state's financial system and facilitate trade. During the same period, Spain became a member of the Latin Monetary Union, which was created to unify several monetary systems that existed at that time in Europe.

But in 1874, namely on July 1, the mint printed the first banknotes in denominations of 25, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 pesetas. The first series issued consisted of 2 million of these banknotes, and only banks and similar financial institutions could use them.

The following series were released with the same denomination. This continued until 1935, when the value of silver increased and the peseta experienced devaluation. Thus, coins in denominations of 5 pesetas began to be sold as a precious metal at a higher cost, the Spanish government was forced to print banknotes in denominations of 5 and 10 pesetas, which became the equivalent, the so-called “silver certificate of coins that were withdrawn from use.

The civil war led to a crisis in the Spanish economy, and the currency depreciated accordingly. Thus, the Bank of Spain was forced to issue banknotes in denominations of 50 centimos, as well as 1, 2, 5, 10 pesetas, since the metal used in minting was simply impossible to buy.

Thus, in 1974, there were approximately 700 million banknotes in circulation in Spain, and literally 4 years later - about a billion. The fact is that the largest banknote was in denomination of 1000 pesetas, and therefore the inhabitants of the country were forced to carry a pile of papers with them in order to make a large purchase.

Due to such circumstances, from the beginning of the 70s of the last century, small denomination banknotes began to be withdrawn from use, and already in 1976 a banknote of 5,000 pesetas appeared. The year 1979 was marked by the penultimate issue of banknotes, each of which, in accordance with its value, had a specific color. In the 80s, banknotes of 2000 and 5000 pesetas appeared, and from 1982 they stopped issuing banknotes of 100 pesetas or less; in 1987, coins were issued that replaced banknotes of 200 and 500 pesetas.

The last series was released in 1992 (1000, 2000, 5000, 10000 pesetas), while the previous series was withdrawn from use in 1997. In 2002, the euro was introduced. By the way, if anyone has pesetas left, they can still be exchanged at the Bank of Spain to receive euros.

It must be said that the Spaniards were very sensitive to their national currency, which had gone out of circulation. For example, in Estepona they even erected a monument in memory of the peseta.

Euro is the modern currency in Spain

As already noted, in 2002, Spain, as a member state of the European Union, introduced the euro to simplify financial transactions and facilitate travel within the European Community. Today, out of 28 member countries, the euro is the currency for 18 - Germany, Slovakia, Austria, Ireland, Estonia, Belgium, Slovenia, France, Cyprus, Greece, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Malta, Luxembourg, Portugal and Latvia.

In total there are 7 euro banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 €, and coins (8 pcs.) in denominations of 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, 0.10, 0 .20, 0.50, 1 and 2 euros. Small coins are called "euro cents".

By the way, paper banknotes are identical in appearance, as well as the reverse or “tails” of coins. But the obverse of the coin is different for each country. At the same time, they are accepted in all EU countries.

Thus, on the obverse of coins in Spain, the denomination of which is 1.2 and 5 euro cents, there are images of the main facade of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, which is visited annually by millions of Christian pilgrims from all over the world. But on the obverse of coins in denominations of 10, 20, 50 euro cents there is an image of Cervantes, deeply revered by the Spaniards. Coins of 1 and 2 euros are minted with a portrait of the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I. Since he is already a former king, from 2015 a portrait of Felipe VI will be minted on the obverse of these coins.

Spain is a large country in Southern Europe, within the Iberian Peninsula. The country can be proud of its history and rich cultural heritage. No less interesting are the money and coins of Spain, as well as the history of the development of the national currency of this ancient state.

Spanish currency: from real to peseta

In 2002, the country joined the so-called Eurozone. But not everyone knows what it was called before the euro...

In general, the evolution of the Spanish currency followed the following chain: real - escudo - peseta - euro. The real was introduced into monetary circulation back in the 14th century by King Pedro the First. This monetary unit remained in the status of the main currency for five centuries in a row. The real was equivalent to three maravedis (older Iberian coins).

The real was replaced by the escudo in 1864 (translated from escudo as “shield”). These coins were minted from both gold and silver. Over the years, one escudo corresponded to a certain number of reais.

From 1869 to 2002, pesetas were in use throughout Spain. They were made from various metals and alloys (aluminum, bronze, copper, nickel and others). The word peseta itself is translated from Spanish as “a piece of something.” One Spanish peseta is divided into 100 centimos.

In the summer of 1874, the first paper banknotes were printed in Spain. These were notes in denominations of 25, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 pesetas. At first, the number of paper banknotes was limited, so only banks and some financial institutions had the right to use them.

Euro is the modern currency of Spain

In 2002, the peseta ceased to officially exist. The country introduced the euro. The reverse of all these coins is traditionally the same for all Eurozone countries. But the obverse in each state is designed differently. On modern coins of Spain you can see the face of King Felipe VI, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostella, revered by thousands of pilgrims, as well as the image of the writer Miguel Cervantes.

By the way, if any of the residents of this beautiful sunny country still have pesetas in their hands, then they can freely exchange them at the bank and get current euros.

It should be noted that not all Spaniards agreed with the transition to the euro. They still treat their old currency very carefully. For example, in the town of Estepona in the south of the country they even erected such a monument in honor of the peseta.

Coins of Spain

Since 1869, pesetas and centimos were minted centrally in the state. Some Spanish coins from this period are of great value among numismatists.

For example, many collectors are interested in coins from the Civil War (late 1930s). During this historical period in Spain, each of the armies issued its own money (there were 15 types in total). Coins with the image of the Spanish dictator from the 40s and 50s are of interest to numismatists.

Spanish coins are distinguished by a rather interesting and varied set of designs and images. On their “body” you can see coat of arms, sailboats and anchors, olive branches, gears and bunches of grapes.

The coins of this country are not spared from the football theme. Of course! After all, the Spanish national football team is one of the strongest in the world. modern world. Thus, on coins issued in 1982 you can see images of balls and football nets. It was this year that Spain hosted the FIFA World Cup.

In conclusion

Real, escudo, peseta, euro... This is exactly the historical evolution of the national currency of Spain. The very first coin in this country was minted 2.5 thousand years ago. The first paper money in Spain was printed in 1874. Many coins of Spain are objects of interest for numismatists.

What is the current currency in Spain? Like most EU countries, the country uses the euro. This currency was put into circulation (non-cash) from the beginning of 1999, and since 2002, coins and banknotes have appeared. Now in the 19 countries that make up the eurozone, the euro is recognized as the official currency. In addition to Spain, these countries include Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, Greece and others.

Single European currency

The euro consists of one hundred cents, also called eurocents. Paper money looks the same in all eurozone countries. But the coins differ depending on the states that issue them: they have one side in common (reverse) - on it, against the background of a schematic map of Europe, the denomination of the banknote is indicated; the other is “national” (obverse), contains the image that one or another country has chosen. It is worth saying that the current monetary currency Spain can be used in any eurozone country.

Obverses of Spanish coins

Metal banknotes in denominations of one, two, five cents are decorated on one side with an image of the main facade of the Cathedral of St. James, located in Santiago de Compostela. This cathedral is a shrine and a center of pilgrimage for Christians around the world.

Coins in denominations of ten, twenty, fifty cents contain the image of the author of the famous novel about Don Quixote - writer Miguel Cervantes.

Metal banknotes in denominations of one and two euros show a portrait of the former King of Spain, Juan Carlos I. Since 2015, coins of this denomination began to be issued with the image of the new ruler of the country - Felipe VI, who is the son of Juan Carlos I.

Special coins

Nowadays there are commemorative metal banknotes with a denomination of two euros in limited quantities. There are currently seven varieties of such coins in Spain.

• 2005 – the first commemorative coin was issued, which was dedicated to the release of the 1st edition of Cervantes’ novel about the adventures of Don Quixote.
• 2007 - another commemorative metal banknote was issued in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, which marked the elimination of any barriers between Belgium, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg, France and the Netherlands to the free movement of services, goods, capital and people. In essence, this agreement became the starting point for the formation of the European Union.
• 2009 - a commemorative two-euro coin was issued to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the creation of the economic and monetary union in Europe, which became the legal basis for the introduction of such a currency as the euro.
• 2010 – coin dedicated to historical center Cordoba.
• 2011 – currency note in honor of the Alhambra, Generalife and Albacín in Granada.
• 2012 – coin dedicated to cathedral, located in Burgos.
• 2013 – commemorative two euros with the image of the Escorial monastery.

Spanish currency before euro

Before the introduction of a single European currency in the country, the peseta was in circulation. Even earlier, the official money of Spain were escudos and reals. Let's talk about them in more detail.

Real

This currency of Spain was the main one in the state for many centuries - from the middle of the fourteenth century until 1864, when it was replaced by the escudo. King Pedro the First of Castile introduced the real as a standard coin, which was equivalent to three maravedis, the ancient Iberian gold and silver coins. Eight reals were equal to the silver peso, which was also called the dollar. It also began to be issued as a separate banknote. Minted Spanish coins could be found in all markets around the world, especially in America and Asia.

Escudo

In 1864, Spain switched to new money. The country's currency was now called the escudo. This name refers to two types of coins - silver and gold. It must be said that the first gold escudo was minted back in 1566, and the last - in 1833. Silver coins were minted from 1864 until they were replaced by a new currency - the peseta. At a certain stage, each escudo was worth the determined amount of reais that we talked about earlier.

Peseta

It is the official currency of Spain before the euro, used throughout the country from 1869 to 2002. The name comes from the word “peceta”, which means “small piece” in Catalan. In the fifteenth century, silver coins were called pesetas, and during the Middle Ages they denoted the value of two reals.

In 1868, in October, a decree was issued establishing which currency in Spain, starting in 1869, would be the official one. The peseta was made the national currency in the name of facilitating trade, strengthening the economy and establishing a stable financial system. At the same time, Spain joined the Latin Monetary Union, the purpose of which was to unify several monetary systems in Europe. The states participating in this union agreed that their currencies would be brought to a bimetallic standard with a clearly fixed ratio of gold and silver.

The first banknotes of various denominations were printed on July 1, 1874 in a series of two million units. They were available only to financial institutions. Subsequently, banknotes in denominations of 25, 50, 100, 500, 1000 pesetas were issued until 1935, until devaluation occurred and the cost of silver increased, which led to the fact that coins in denominations of five pesetas began to sell for more high price as a precious metal. As a result, the Spanish government removed these coins from circulation and introduced banknotes in denominations of five and ten pesetas.

During the civil war, the state's economy fell into decline, and with it the currency of Spain. Banknotes were printed in denominations of 50 centimos, 1, 2 pesetas, since metal for minting coins was not possible to buy. In 1974, there were approximately seven hundred million of these banknotes in circulation, and in 1978 there were already more than a billion. Since the largest banknote remained the 1,000 peseta note, Spaniards had to carry a bunch of paper with them to make a serious purchase. This led to the fact that, starting in the 1970s, banknotes of small denominations began to be withdrawn from circulation. And in 1976, a banknote with a face value of 5,000 pesetas was first issued.

In the penultimate series of banknotes from 1979, the money of each denomination corresponded to a specific color. In the 1980s, 2,000 and 5,000 peseta banknotes were added to the series. Starting in 1982, the country stopped printing banknotes in denominations below 500 pesetas, and in 1987, coins in denominations of 200 and 500 pesetas appeared instead of similar paper money.

The last series was issued in 1992 and consisted of banknotes of 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000 pesetas. Banknotes of the previous series were withdrawn from circulation in 1997. From this time until 2002, when the euro was introduced, the currency of Spain consisted only of the above four banknotes (not counting coins).

By the way, those who have pesetas lying around can exchange them for euros today. The former currency of Spain is accepted at the country's central bank. The Spaniards themselves really liked pesetas, and many older people still convert prices into them. The former currency of Spain has not been forgotten to this day. Thus, a monument to her was erected in Estepona, and in some shops in the country, the price tags in small print indicate the cost of goods in pesetas.

What currency is preferable for tourists in Spain?

Before arriving in this amazing country, it is recommended to exchange money for euros. But it doesn’t matter if you haven’t done this: in Spain, currency exchange can be done at every step: in hotels, exchange offices, tourist offices and guides. But, of course, the best rate is offered in banks, although it is worth considering that a commission may be charged for the service. Almost all bank branches have ATMs. Using them, you can withdraw money from an international credit card at any time of the day.

In all countries of the Eurozone, the currency in circulation is the euro/€. Fortunately, Spain is also one of these, and therefore there will be no need for an “acclimatization” period for the new monetary circulation. Fortunately, even a schoolchild knows what the euro is.

A little history

But this was not always the case in Spain, or rather, only since 2002. Until that time, tourists paid for purchases and vacations with “pesetas” (ESP): banknotes in denominations of 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10000 pesetas and coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5 , 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 500 pesetas.

Monetary currency of Spain

Today in Spain they produce banknotes at 500 €, 200 €, 100 €, 50 €, 20 €, 10 € and 5 €, as well as coins 1 €, 2 €, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, 1 EURO CENT. Banknotes issued in the country have their own “V” sign in front of the serial number. Depending on the value, they differ in size, color and printed image.

Coins, in turn, are made of various alloys and also have their own characteristic patterns.

Import/export cash

Spanish laws do not restrict the import of funds, however, if we are talking about large sums reaching 10,000 €, they must be documented. Otherwise, if all the funds cannot be spent, the tourist risks losing his hard-earned money, because there is increased attention to the export of money. When exporting currency over €8,400, you must fill out a declaration and provide documents permitting export. More than 2500 € are subject to only one declaration, and less than 2500 € do not require any manipulation.

Currency exchange

You can exchange currency in Spain at almost every step: at a street exchange kiosk, in a hotel, tourist office or a jar. At the same time, in some places you will have to pay a commission for the services provided, but it is most profitable to change money in Spanish banks. They work 6 days a week from Monday to Saturday from 8.30 to 14.00. During the summer season from June to September, Saturday is a day off.