List of currencies in the Americas

There are 39 currencies currently in official use in the Americas. All de jure present currencies in the Americas are listed here, including currencies from countries which are not sovereign states or dependencies.

A commonly used currency in the Americas is the United States dollar.[1] It is the world's largest reserve currency,[2] the resulting economic value of which benefits the U.S. at over $100 billion annually.[3] However, its position as a reserve currency damages American exporters because this increases the value of the United States dollar.[4][5] The United States dollar is also "standard" in international commodity markets.[1] In the phenomenon known as 'dollarization', the U.S. dollar has been adopted as the official currency of several other countries.[6] However, semi-dollarization also exists in a few other countries where the U.S. dollar is recognised as legal tender alongside another currency, and unofficial dollarization exists in many areas where the U.S. dollar is widely used and accepted-although it is not recognised as legal tender.[6] Ecuador uses the United States dollar[7] (the French overseas department French Guiana uses the euro, the currency of France).

The Brazilian real is considered a strong South American currency; under presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff, the real almost tripled in value, resulting in a vast change in economics, with many people who were middle class benefiting greatly.[8] The minimum wage was raised, and Brazil's position as a leading exporter of raw materials, including soya beans and iron ore was underlined, but they are responsible for Brazil's improved economy, which damaged the "competitiveness of manufacturing",[8] reducing the amount of exports.[9]

The Chilean currency, the Chilean peso, is also strong.[10] However, this again means that manufacturing struggles, as cheaper imports are pricing them out of business.[10] In January 2011, after Chile announced that in 2011 the country planned to buy foreign reserves of $12 billion, the peso experienced an immediate fall in value.[10] The country's main export is copper to China and India.[10] The currency strength has resulted in over-high wages, and high inflation.[10]

The East Caribbean dollar is the most used currency by the number of countries in the Caribbean utilizing it. The East Caribbean dollar is pegged to the United States dollar, and has been for over 35 years since 1976,[11] having previously been pegged to the pound sterling.[11] In 1965, the Eastern Caribbean Currency Authority was established (coming after the British Caribbean Currency Board), to distribute currency, but The Bahamas withdrew from the organisation to create its own bank.[12] The East Caribbean dollar is used in all seven member countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Anguilla (a British overseas territory); the only OECS member using a different currency is the British Virgin Islands,[13] a British overseas territory where the U.S. dollar is the official currency.[14][15] Cuba and Panama both use two currencies. Cuba is attempting to gradually phase out the Cuban convertible peso, unifying the two in the Cuban peso.[16] Although there is no confirmed timescale for the reform, whilst quoting Cuban economists, Reuters gave an estimation of 18 months (from October 2013).[16] Panama uses the United States dollar informally,[17] but additionally uses the Panamanian balboa as legal tender.[18]

American sovereign state currencies

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List of all American sovereign state currencies
Present currency Country or dependency (administrating country) Currency sign Fractional unit Ref(s)
Aruban florin   Aruba (Netherlands) ƒ Cent [19]
[20]
[21]
Argentine peso   Argentina $ Centavo [22]
[23]
Bahamian dollar   The Bahamas $ Cent [24]
Barbadian dollar (also called Bajan dollar)   Barbados $ Cent [25]
[26]
Bermudian dollar   Bermuda (United Kingdom) $ Cent [27]
Belize dollar   Belize $ Cent [28]
[29]
Bolivian boliviano   Bolivia Bs Centavo [30]
[31]
Brazilian real   Brazil R$ Centavo ,[32]
[33]
[34]
Canadian dollar   Canada CA$ Cent [35]
[36]
Cayman Islands dollar   Cayman Islands (United Kingdom) $ Cent [37]
Chilean peso   Chile $ Centavo [38]
[39]
Colombian peso   Colombia $ Centavo [40]
[41]
Costa Rican colón   Costa Rica Céntimo [42]
[43]
Cuban peso   Cuba CUC$ Centavo [44]
Danish krone   Greenland (Denmark) kr Øre [45]
Dominican peso   Dominican Republic RD$ Centavo [46]
[47]
East Caribbean dollar   Antigua and Barbuda $ Cent [48]
  Dominica [48]
  Grenada [49]
  Montserrat (United Kingdom) [48]
  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines [48]
  Saint Kitts and Nevis [50]
  Saint Lucia [51]
Euro   French Guiana (France) Cent [52]
  Guadeloupe (France) [53]
  Martinique (France) [53]
  Saint Martin (France) [53]
Falkland Islands pound   Falkland Islands (United Kingdom) £ Pence [54]
[55]
Guatemalan quetzal   Guatemala Q Centavo [56]
[57]
Guyanese dollar   Guyana $, G$ Cent [58]
[59]
Haitian gourde   Haiti G Centime [60]
[61]
Honduran lempira   Honduras L Centavo [62]
[63]
Jamaican dollar   Jamaica J$ Cent [64]
[65]
Mexican peso   Mexico $ Centavo [66]
[67]
Netherlands Antillean guilder   Curaçao (Netherlands) ƒ Cent [68]
[69]
[70]
  Sint Maarten (Netherlands) [53]
Nicaraguan córdoba   Nicaragua C$ Centavo [71]
[72]
Panamanian balboa   Panama B/. Centésimo [18]
[73]
Paraguayan guaraní   Paraguay Céntimo [74]
Peruvian sol   Peru S/. Céntimo [75]
[76]
Surinamese dollar   Suriname $ Cent [77]
[78]
Trinidad and Tobago dollar   Trinidad and Tobago TT$ Cent [79]
[80]
United Kingdom pound   South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (United Kingdom) £ Pence [81]
United States dollar   Bonaire (Netherlands) $ Cent [82]
[83]
[84]
  British Virgin Islands (United Kingdom) [82]
  Ecuador [82]
  El Salvador [82]
  Panama [82]
  Puerto Rico (United States) [82]
  Saba (Netherlands) [85]
  Sint Eustatius (Netherlands) [86]
  Turks and Caicos Islands (United Kingdom) [87]
  United States [82]
  United States Virgin Islands (United States) [82]
Uruguayan peso   Uruguay $U Centésimo [88]
[89]
Venezuelan bolívar   Venezuela Bs. Céntimo [90]
[91]

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ a b "USD – US Dollar". Currencies Direct. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ^ Conerly, Bill (25 October 2013). "Future Of The Dollar As World Reserve Currency". Forbes. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  3. ^ Rogoff, Kenneth (October 2013). "America's Endless Budget Battle". Project Syndicate.
  4. ^ "America's 'Exorbitant' Privilege Will Continue". 19 April 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  5. ^ "The rise and fall of the dollar Go with the flows". The Economist. 22 January 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  6. ^ a b "The U.S. Dollar's Unofficial Status as World Currency". Investopedia. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  7. ^ "Currency in South America". Contiki. 28 December 2013. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  8. ^ a b Chetwynd, Gareth (29 August 2011). "Brazil's strong currency benefits consumers but punishes businesses". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  9. ^ Inman, Phillip (25 July 2013). "Brazil's real economic crisis lies in its overvalued currency". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Waging the currency war". The Economist. 13 January 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  11. ^ a b "ECCU commemorates 34th Anniversary of EC dollar pegged to the US dollar". Dominica News Online. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  12. ^ "The EC Currency and the ECCB". EECB. Archived from the original on 30 October 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  13. ^ "East Caribbean Dollar". Oanda. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  14. ^ "Money in Virgin Islands". Frommer's. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  15. ^ "Virgin Islands (British) Customs, Currency & Airport Tax regulations details". TravelCentre. International Air Transport Association. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  16. ^ a b "Cuba to scrap two-currency system in latest reform". BBC. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  17. ^ Muscatelli, Anton (1 April 2014). "A currency union would be best for all of Britain". Financial Times. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  18. ^ a b "Panamanian Balboa". Oanda. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  19. ^ Linzmayer, Owen (26 April 2011). "Aruba". The Banknote Book (1st ed.). San Francisco. p. 7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  20. ^ "AWG - Aruban or Dutch Guilder". Xe. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  21. ^ "Banknotes and Coins". Central Bank of Arubia. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  22. ^ "ARS - Argentine Peso". Xe. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  23. ^ "Argentina". International Economics. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  24. ^ "BSD - Bahamian Dollar". Xe. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  25. ^ "Barbados Dollar". Oanda. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  26. ^ "BBD - Barbadian or Bajan Dollar". Xe. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  27. ^ "BMD - Bermudian Dollar". Xe. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  28. ^ "BZD - Belizean Dollar". Xe. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  29. ^ "Belize Dollar". Oanda. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  30. ^ "BOB - Bolivian Boliviano". Xe. Archived from the original on 19 February 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  31. ^ "Bolivian Boliviano". Oanda. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  32. ^ "BRL - Brazilian Real". Xe. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  33. ^ "Brazilian Real". Oanda. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  34. ^ "Brazil". International Economics. Archived from the original on September 20, 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  35. ^ "CAD - Canadian Dollar". Xe. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  36. ^ "Canadian Dollar". Oanda. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  37. ^ "KYD - Caymanian Dollar". Xe. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  38. ^ "CLP - Chilean Peso". Xe. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  39. ^ "Chilean Peso". Oanda. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  40. ^ "COP - Colombian Peso". Xe. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  41. ^ "Colombian Peso". Oanda. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  42. ^ "CRC - Costa Rican Colon". Xe. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  43. ^ "Costa Rican Colon". Oanda. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  44. ^ "CUC - Cuban Convertible Peso". Xe. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  45. ^ "DKK - Danish Krone". Xe. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  46. ^ "DOP - Dominican Peso". Xe. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  47. ^ "Dominican Peso". Oanda. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  48. ^ a b c d "XCD - East Caribbean Dollar". Xe. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  49. ^ Mawer, Fred (22 April 2013). "Grenada travel guide". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  50. ^ "Compare Money Transfers to Saint Kitts And Nevis". ExchangeRates.org.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  51. ^ "Practical Information". Visit St Lucia. Archived from the original on 9 December 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  52. ^ "Guadeloupe Currency". Cuba Currency and Money Guide. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  53. ^ a b c d "St-Martin - Useful information". St Martin. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  54. ^ "FKP - Falkland Island Pound". Xe. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  55. ^ "Falkland Islands Pound". Oanda. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  56. ^ "GTQ - Guatemalan Quetzal". Xe. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  57. ^ "Guatemalan Quetzal". Oanda. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  58. ^ "GYD - Guyanese Dollar". Xe. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  59. ^ "Guyanese Dollar". Oanda. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  60. ^ "HTG - Haitian Gourde". Xe. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  61. ^ "Haiti Gourde". CurrencyConverter.co.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  62. ^ "HNL - Honduran Lempira". Xe. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  63. ^ "Honduran Lempira". Oanda. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  64. ^ "JMD - Jamaican Dolla". Xe. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  65. ^ "Jamaican Dollar". Oanda. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  66. ^ "MXN - Mexican Peso". Xe Mexico. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  67. ^ "Mexican Peso". Oanda. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  68. ^ "Curaçao Currency". Curaçao Tourist Board. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  69. ^ Linzmayer, Owen (2012). "Netherlands Antilles". The Banknote Book. San Francisco, CA: www.BanknoteNews.com.
  70. ^ "Coins". Central Bank of Curaçao and Saint Martin. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  71. ^ "NIO - Nicaraguan Cordoba". Xe. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  72. ^ "Nicaraguan Cordoba Oro". Oanda. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  73. ^ "PAB - Panamanian Balboa". Xe. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  74. ^ "Paraguay Guarani". Oanda. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  75. ^ "PEN - Peruvian Nuevo Sol". Xe. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  76. ^ "Peru". International Economics. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  77. ^ "SRD - Surinamese Dollar". Xe. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  78. ^ "Suriname Dollar". Oanda. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  79. ^ "TTD - Trinidadian Dollar". Xe. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  80. ^ "Trinidad/Tobago Dollar". Oanda. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  81. ^ "The island". South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands. Archived from the original on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  82. ^ a b c d e f g h "USD - US Dollar". Xe. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  83. ^ "Money and Currency". Info Bonaire. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  84. ^ "United States Dollar". Oanda. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  85. ^ "General info". Saba Tourism. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  86. ^ "Essential Facts". Sint Eustatius. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  87. ^ "Quick Facts". Turks and Caicos Islands. Archived from the original on 28 October 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  88. ^ "UYU - Uruguayan Peso". Xe. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  89. ^ "Uruguayan Peso". Oanda. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  90. ^ "VEF - Venezuelan Bolivar". Xe. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  91. ^ "Venezuelan Bolivar". Oanda. Retrieved 2 January 2014.