20 Centavos

1973 year


Copper-nickel (75% Copper, 25% Nickel)	2.27 g	18 mm

Description

Issuer	Honduras
Issuing bank	Central Bank of Honduras (Banco Central de Honduras)
Period	Republic (1862-date)
Type	Standard circulation coin
Year	1973
Value	20 Centavos 0.20 HNL = USD 0.0080
Currency	Lempira (1931-date)
Composition	Copper-nickel (75% Copper, 25% Nickel)
Weight	2.27 g
Diameter	18 mm
Thickness	1.5 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Coin alignment ↑↓
Updated	2024-10-05

References

Numista	N#7028
Rarity index	11%

Reverse

Value, Portrait of Lempira (with feathers) to the left

Script: Latin

Lettering: 20 CENTAVOS DE LEMPIRA

Translation: 20 Cents of a Lempira

Edge

Milled

Comment

Lempira, the present currency of Honduras, was introduced in 1931 replacing the Peso. The Lempira is divided into 100 Centavos.

The currency is named after Lempira, a chieftain of the indigenous Lenca people, who waged war against Spanish occupation of the country during 16th century. He is revered as a national hero.

The image on the reverse of this coin is of Lempira adorning plumes.

Interesting fact

The 20 Centavos coin from Honduras, minted in 1973, has a unique feature. It's a rare example of a coin that was minted with a mistake. The coin was intended to have a portrait of the Honduran leader, Ramón Amaya Amador, but due to an error, the image was accidentally flipped, resulting in a mirrored image of Amador's face. This error has made the coin a sought-after collector's item among numismatists.