Central Bank of Honduras
The Central Bank of Honduras (Banco Central de Honduras) operates as the central monetary authority overseeing a system defined by structured portrait series, notably reflecting national history and cultural identity.
Quick Facts
Institutional Identity
The Banco Central de Honduras, established in 1950, issues the Honduran lempira (HNL), introduced in 1931 to replace the peso and named after the indigenous leader Lempira. His portrait appears on the 1 lempira banknote and in watermark form across the series, while other denominations feature key national figures such as Francisco Morazán, forming a structured multi-portrait system.
Historical Evolution
A defining numismatic detail lies in the evolution of the 1 lempira design: early issues portrayed Lempira inaccurately with a North American Plains-style feather headdress, while later versions corrected this into a historically accurate depiction of a Lenca warrior, creating a recognised variation within the series.
Design Philosophy
Honduran banknotes integrate archaeological identity through references to the Maya site of Copán alongside modern production by De La Rue and Giesecke+Devrient. A key technological milestone is the 20 lempiras polymer banknote, produced on Guardian™ substrate, marking the transition into modern banknote materials.
For collectors
For collectors, Honduras offers a focused and character-rich field defined by the Lempira portrait evolution, the Copán archaeological theme, the polymer 20 lempiras issue and the standout 200 lempiras “Bicentenario” banknote (2021) featuring the Scarlet Macaw, making it one of the most recognisable modern issues in Central American numismatics.