The Mexican peso (MXN)

The Mexican peso is the official currency of Mexico. Its symbol is $, the same (as well as earlier in time) than that of the American dollar and its origins date back to the beginning of the 20th century. The ISO code for the Mexican peso is MXN.

The peso ($) is divided into 100 cents (¢ symbol). The peso is the name of other world currencies such as the Argentine peso, Chilean peso, Colombian peso, Dominican peso, Philippine peso or the Uruguayan peso.

As of the date of this post (28th Feb 2023), the euro-peso exchange rate is as follows:

  • one euro equals 19,46 pesos.
  • 10 pesos are equivalent to 0.51 euros.

Origins of the Mexican peso

Before the mexican independence

Between the years 1535 and 1821, the time of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, which had its headquarters in Mexico City (formerly Tenochtitlan), the most common form of payment was exchange or barter because the Spanish hardly had coins (“castellanos”) that they brought with them. One of the most valued merchandise at that time was cocoa, along with jade beads and cotton blankets.

The “conquistadores” obtained large quantities of gold and silver from the Indians and prospected for precious metals in numerous Mexican mines.

Thanks to this abundance of gold extracted from the American countries, it allowed the Spaniards to produce metallic gold, silver and copper coins for use among the colonial population.

Originally the coins were made by hand, melting discs of an alloy of gold and copper (pesos de tepuzque), with the same weight as the “castellano”.

It is because of this Spanish-local currency equivalence that it became customary to call the monetary unit of Mexico and many other Latin American countries, the peso (“peso” in Spanish means “weight”).

Coins referenced to their weight in precious metal

The face value of these coins was that of their weight in the metal they were made of (remember the popular expression, “worth their weight in gold”).

This allowed them to be accepted as a means of payment since their face value was referenced to their precious metal content. that is, that money was a commodity with intrinsic value.

Paper banknotes

For this same reason, in those years, the adoption of banknotes by these Spanish colonies in Central and South America was timid and slow.

There were some issues of paper banknotes, issued by private banks as voluntary purchase credit titles and payable in legal currency. The holder of one of these securities could exchange it for coins when it was agreed.

Later it was the colonial government that issued notes of legal tender of obligatory use and acceptance, also convertible or exchangeable for metallic currency made of precious metals.

Finally, the currency began to be produced with all kinds of low-value metals, becoming fiduciary currency (“fiat”).

Mint of Mexico

In 1535, Viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza received the certificate from King Carlos I and King Juana La Loca for the founding of the Casa de Moneda de México, the first of its kind in all of America.

The first coins minted in Mexican territory were known as “Carlos” and “Juana” due to the Latin inscription on their obverse (Carolus et Iohana).

Globalization of the American currency

During the reign of Philip II (1556-1598), the “return route from the Philippines to the port of Acapulco” was discovered (1565).

This created an important trade route between the Americas and the Orient, with the currencies produced in Mexico ruling practically all world trade (hence the name of the Philippine peso).

The coin produced at this time is known as a “macuquina” coin (perhaps from the Arabic macuch, meaning “approved” or “sanctioned”).

During the 18th century, silver coins called “columnarios” or “of worlds and seas” were minted in Mexico, representing the two worlds with the Latin legend “Vtraque vnum” (both are one).

These Mexican coins were the main means of international payment at the time and were known as “peluconas” as they showed the effigy of the king in armor and abundant wig from the Age of Enlightenment.

After Mexico´s independence

The War of Independence from Spain (1810-1821) involved the looting by bandits of the silver transported to the Mexican Mint to be minted.

This, along with the occupation of the mines and the export of current coins, gave way to the issuance of coins by the insurgents, in copper, as “promises to pay.”

This represented the introduction in Mexico of a fiduciary currency without intrinsic value. The obverse of these crude pieces was the monogram of the Morelos insurgent together with the denomination and year of minting. Pieces of eight, two, one, and a half real were produced.

In 1823 Mexico, already as an independent Republic, President Guadalupe Victoria decreed the minting of gold and silver coins according to the Spanish octaval system in denominations of escudos and reales. But with different designs inspired by the symbols of freedom and justice of the French Revolution.

From the Monetary Reform of 1905, the gold standard was adopted, and the coins began to have the current inscription “United Mexican States”.

This reform created gold coins of ten and five pesos with a law of 900 thousandths which present, for the first time since the establishment of the Republic, the effigy of a historical figure: Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla.

In the last quarter of the 20th century, the value of the coins fell so much due to inflation that high denomination coins (one thousand and up to five thousand pesos) were minted.

On June 18, 1992, it was established that from 1993 a new unit of the Monetary System of the United Mexican States would be used, equivalent to 1000 pesos of the previous unit: the new Mexican peso “N$”.

In 1996 the adjective “New” (N$) was eliminated, issuing new coins with the same designs as the previous series but in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 pesos ($) and 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.

Synonyms of the Mexican peso

In many parts of Mexico the peso is called with the following words also associated with the generic “money” (in Spanish): “varo”, “billullo”, “lana”, “marmaja”, “billeye”, “ribete”.

Mexican peso coins

The legal tender coins of the Mexican peso are these:

  • 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents (¢), and
  • 1, 2, 5, 10 pesos ($).
  • 20 pesos (commemorative coin).
Pièces en peso mexicain en circulation au Mexique
Mexican pesos coins in circulation in Mexico

In winter 2019, the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) announced that it was going to mint a 20-peso coin while withdrawing the banknote of the same value from circulation.

The reason given is that the “paper” has an average life of about 40 months before being replaced by deteriorated, compared to the currency, which can last without being replaced, about 30 years, despite the fact that it costs more to issue than the banknote.

The new 20 Mexican pesos coin has a diameter of 30 mm and entered into circulation on September 27, 2021.

There are 3 commemorative variants of the 20 pesos coin.

  • Of the 700 years of the lunar foundation of the city of Mexico-Tenochtitlan;
  • Of the 500 years of historical memory of Mexico-Tenochtitlan;
  • Of the bicentennial of National Independence,

This is the appearance of its obverse (same for all of them, it shows the National Shield in sculptural relief, with the legend “ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS” forming the upper semicircle):

Pièce en 20 pesos mexicains (recto)
20 mexican peso coin (obverse)

And this is the back of the first one:

Pièce en 20 pesos mexicains (verso)
20 mexican peso coin (reverse)

Mexican peso banknotes

Banco de México was born on September 1, 1925 with the power to mint coins and issue banknotes exclusively, regulate monetary circulation, interest rates and exchange rates.

The first Bank of Mexico notes were printed by the American Bank Note Company of New York (ABNC). In 1969, the Banco de México Banknote Factory began activities.

Currently, Mexican peso banknotes circulate in Mexico from the G series (started in 2013 and printed from 2017) with the denominations of $20, $50, $100, $200, $500 and $1000 pesos. Each of them represents a popular character and/or a popular monument:

  • 20 pesos banknote: blue color. Benito Juárez and Monte Albán Archaeological Zone.
  • 50 pesos banknote: pink. José Mª Morelos y Pavón. Morelia aqueduct.
  • 100 pesos banknote: yellow/red Nezahhualcóyotl color. Greater Temple of Tenochtitlan.
  • 200 pesos banknote: green color. Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz. Panoaya Farm (Amecameca).
  • 500 pesos banknote: brown color. Diego Rivera. Frida Kahlo painting “The love embrace of the universe”.
  • 1000 pesos banknote: purple color: Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. University of Guanajuato.

The successive issues of banknotes by Banxico bear a name from a letter of the alphabet. The most recent are those of the G family, which corresponds to polymer banknotes.

Below we put the photos of the Mexican peso banknotes so that you can have them as a reference. They are taken from the website of the Bank of Mexico (Banxico).

20 peso banknote

Since September 24, 2021, this 20 Mexican pesos banknote has been in circulation, in green and red colors, measuring 120 x 65 mm and made of polymer. This banknote belongs to the G family of pesos banknotes.

It is a commemorative banknote of the Independence of Mexico (specifically the entry of the “Army of the three guarantees in the capital of Mexico on September 27 of the memorable year of 1821”.

This is what it looks like:

Billet de 20 pesos mexicains (à partir de septembre 2021)
20 mexican pesos banknote (since September 2021)

The equivalent value of this 20-peso banknote for exchange in euros, at currency suppliers in France today, December 19, 2022, would be about 84 euro cents.

Disused 20 pesos banknote

This banknote is bluish in color and had been circulating in Mexico since August 2007, although since the end of 2019 it has been withdrawn by Mexican banks. It can continue to be used but it is better to get rid of it or simply not accept it.

On the obverse it shows the effigy Benito Juárez García (1806-1872), president of the Mexican Republic in 1858. For his defense of human liberties, which served as an example to other Latin American countries and is known as “Benemérito de las Américas” .

It also shows a scale that symbolizes balance and justice, and a book that represents the Reform Laws promulgated in 1859.

Billet de 20 pesos mexicains 20 MXN (recto)
Former 20 mexican peso banknote (obverse)

On the back it shows the archaeological zone of Monte Albán (Zapotec culture), located in the state of Oaxaca and nominated by UNESCO as a cultural heritage of humanity.

Billet de 20 pesos mexicains 20 MXN (verso)
Former 20 mexican peso banknote (reverse)

50 peso banknote

Since October 28, 2021, the 50-peso banknote of the G family has been circulating in Mexico with a vertical design on the front and back.

On the obverse it shows an eagle perched on a cactus with the “Atl tlachinolli” in its beak and on the reverse a representation of the lake city of Tenochtitlan, based on part of Diego Rivera’s mural.

Billet de 50 pesos mexicains (recto et verso)
50 mexican pesos banknote (obverse and reverse)

The equivalent value of this 50-peso banknote for exchange in euros, in currency suppliers in France today, December 20, 2022, would be about 2.11 euros.

Disused 50 pesos banknote

This other 50-peso banknote is currently in the process of being withdrawn from circulation.

It was put into circulation in May 2013. It shows on the obverse the portrait of Morelos and his banner (two crossed cannons and the bow, arrow and the word SUD) and monarch butterflies, characteristic of the state of Michoacán.

Billet de 50 pesos mexicains 50 MXN recto
Former 50 mexican peso banknote (obverse)

The reverse shows the aqueduct of Morelia, Michoacán, built in the 18th century by order of Bishop Manuel Escalante Columbres.

Billet de 50 pesos mexicains 50 MXN verso
Former 50 mexican peso banknote (reverse)

100 peso banknote

Since November 12, 2020, the 100-peso banknote of the G family has been circulating in Mexico with a vertical design on the front and back and a red color.

Billet de 100 pesos mexicains en circulation depuis novembre 2020
100 Mexican pesos bill (in circulation since November 2020)

On the obverse it shows a portrait of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz next to a fragment of the main patio of the Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso, (Historical Center of Mexico City).

The reverse shows the temperate forests of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (Mexico and Michoacán de Ocampo states), and recognized by UNESCO as a natural heritage of humanity.

The equivalent value of this 100-peso banknote to exchange in euros, in currency suppliers in France today, December 20, 2022, would be about 4.22 euros.

Disused 100 pesos banknote

This reddish banknote with yellow details was put into circulation in August 2010 and belongs to the D1 family.

It shows on the obverse the effigy of Nezahualcóyotl (monarch of the city-state of Texcoco in ancient Mexico) along with representations of a zentzontle, four word symbols, a piece of jade, a flower and two seated men.

Billet de 100 pesos mexicains 100 MXN recto
Former 100 Mexican  peso banknote 100 MXN (obverse)

The reverse shows a vignette of the stylized glyph of Nezahualcóyotl, together with a representation of an aqueduct from the Templo Mayor in the central plaza of México-Tenochtitlán.

Billet de 100 pesos mexicains 100 MXN verso
Former 100 Mexican  peso banknote 100 MXN (reverse)

200 peso banknote

Since September 2, 2019, the 200-peso banknote of the G family has been circulating in Mexico, inaugurated with the 500 MXN banknote.

This banknote replaces the banknote below dedicated to Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, which now occupies the 100-peso banknote of the new G family.

On its obverse it shows the effigy of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753-1811) and José María Morelos (1765-1815), heroes of the independence of Mexico.

Hidalgo is credited with the uprising against the Spanish under the “Cry of Dolores”, on September 16, 1810, when the bells of the city of Dolores, in Guanajuato, tolled to the sound of proclamations such as “Long live independence! long live America! or die the gachupines!” (Esquilón of San José). Morelos continued to fight to the death of Hidalgo.

On the back of the banknote, there is a snapshot of the El Pinacate Biosphere Reserve (in the state of Sonora) and the Gran Desierto de Altar representing the ecosystem of deserts and scrublands.

Nuevo billete de 200 pesos 200 MXN Mexico
New 200 peso note 200 MXN Mexico

The equivalent value of this 200-peso banknote for exchange in euros, at currency suppliers in France today, December 20, 2022, would be about 8.44 euros.

Disused 200 pesos banknote

This green banknote was put into circulation in September 2008 and belongs to the D1 family.

It is in the process of being withdrawn from circulation, although it can continue to be used. In fact, its main motifs are those of the current 100-peso banknote of the G family.

It shows on the obverse the effigy of the writer Juana Inés de Asbaje y Ramírez de Santillana (Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz) who lived between 1651 and 1695. It is accompanied by a composition of books, an inkwell, two pens and a window that makes reference to Sor Juana’s library or workplace and her writing tools inside the cloister where she spent much of her life.

Billet de 200 pesos mexicains 200 MXN recto
Former 200 Mexican peso banknote 200 MXN (obverse)

The reverse shows the Panoayan hacienda where Sor Juana Inés lived, together with a baptismal font from the San Vicente Ferrer temple in Chimalhuacán, State of Mexico. In the background is a view of the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes.

Billet de 200 pesos mexicains 200 MXN verso
Former 200 Mexican peso banknote 200 MXN (reverse)

500 peso banknote

This blue banknote was put into circulation in August 2018, and was the first to start the new series of Mexican banknotes, the G series.

It shows on the obverse the Reform and the restoration of the Republic with President Benito Juárez (1806-1872) triumphantly entering Mexico City on July 15, 1867, symbolizing the victory of the Reform, of the Church-State separation and of the basic principle of equality before the law.

Billet de 500 pesos mexicains 500 MXN recto
500 mexican pesos banknote 500 MXN (obverse)

The reverse shows the ecosystem of coasts, seas and islands through a gray whale with its calf in the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve, in Baja California Sur, recognized by UNESCO as a natural heritage of humanity.

Billet de 500 pesos mexicains 500 MXN verso
500 mexican pesos banknote 500 MXN (reverse)

This 500-peso banknote has been nominated by the International Banknote Society (IBNS) as one of the best-designed banknotes in the world.

The equivalent value of this 500-peso banknote to exchange in euros, at currency suppliers in France today, December 20, 2022, would be about 21.10 euros.

1000 peso banknote

On November 19, 2020, the new 1000 peso banknote of the G family was launched, dedicated to the Mexican Revolution. It measures 153 x 65 mm, is made of cotton paper and its color is predominantly grey.

The obverse shows the image of a locomotive as a means of transport for the revolutionaries and the effigies of Francisco I. Madero, Hermila Galindo and Carmen Serdán, all of them promoters of the revolutionary ideals of democracy, equality and justice in the 19th century.

Francisco I Madero was a Mexican businessman and politician who rose up against the government of Porfirio Díaz, starting the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Carmen Serdán Alatriste was a Mexican revolutionary as was Hermila Galindo (known as Hermila Galindo de Topete).

The reverse shows the humid jungles in the Ancient Mayan City, a jaguar and protected tropical forests of Calakmul in Campeche, recognized by UNESCO as a natural and cultural heritage of humanity.

Billet de 1000 pesos mexicains en circulation depuis novembre 2020
1000 Mexican peso banknote in circulation since November 2020

The equivalent value of this 1000-peso banknote to exchange in euros, in currency suppliers in France today, December 20, 2022, would be about 42.19 euros.

Disused 1000 pesos banknote

This pink and purple banknote was put into circulation in April 2008 and belongs to the D1 family, which has been withdrawn from circulation since November 2020, although it is still accepted as a valid means of payment in Mexico.

It shows on the obverse the effigy Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (Father of the Nation) next to the bell of Dolores and two towers of the same church. The cartoon refers to the cry of Dolores, when Miguel Hidalgo rang the bell to summon the people to start the independence movement.

Billet de 1000 pesos mexicains 1000 MXN recto
Former 1000 Mexican peso banknote (obverse)

The reverse shows the University of Guanajuato and a frog that refers to Guanajuato and a representation of the architecture of that city.

Billet de 1000 pesos mexicains 1000 MXN verso
Former 1000 Mexican peso banknote (reverse)

Mexican peso to euro exchange rate

The change of the euro with respect to the Mexican peso oscillates at all times. If you search on Google for “Euro to Mexican peso exchange rate” you will find dozens of websites like Oanda (“currency converters”) that offer a “rate” of the day, even with Google Finance prices.

Something like this (28th Feb 2023):

Euro to Mexican Peso exchange rate (28 Feb 2023).jpg
Euro to Mexican Peso exchange rate (28 Feb 2023).jpg

As you can see, the change in the last 5 years has fluctuated between 20 and 27 pesos per euro, up to the current 20.72 euros of this update.

But keep in mind that this graph represents the value of the “currency” against the euro, and not the currency, which is lower.

In fact, at currency suppliers in France you can buy Mexican pesos at an exchange rate of between 19.46 pesos per euro (today’s best rate) and 14.31 pesos per euro at the Paris-CDG airport. Nothing to do with the currency exchange from euro to pesos.

So, when you see these values in Google and other currency converters with your mobile, keep this in mind:

  • This is an unreliable price. In other words, if you click on the “Disclaimer” link, you will get this warning from Google Finance:

“Google cannot guarantee the accuracy of the exchange rates displayed. Please confirm current rates before making a transaction that may be affected by changes in exchange rates.”

  • This price can only be held by banks among themselves, that is, it is impossible to obtain it as an individual.

If you need pesos in banknotes, you will have to go through the ticket retail market (bank or currency supplier). This market means that the Mexican pesos have had to be “transported” by someone for you to enjoy them (or previously bought from Mexican tourists passing through France).

In other words, moving tickets from one place to another has logistical costs that will make their sale price more expensive (the exchange rate that will be applied by whoever sells them to you).

The Mexican peso is a currency that is not very common or abundant in France, so it is not so easy to find it available for sale. Therefore, it is good to anticipate the purchase and order it online to obtain a better price.

Where to change Mexican pesos

The 3 most popular places to exchange pesos in France are banks, currency suppliers in the city, and currency suppliers at the airport.

Of these, the least recommended place to buy are airports because they share a lucrative business with the manager who owns the business, who puts millions of travelers at their disposal. And as you can imagine, a business to be distributed among more participants, by force requires charging more expensive to travelers.

Of the two French airports that buy or sell pesos, the prices at Paris-CDG and Orly, Bordeaux and Marseille are the worst. The currency suppliers located there, managed by the Global Exchange currency supplier, announce that they do not charge commissions.

But be careful, because their profit margins are very high, and therefore their purchase or sale prices are not very interesting for you.

As for French banks and savings banks, not all of them sell or buy Mexican pesos but they charge you commissions for your change as well as a margin on the price they give you.

For this reason, our recommendation is to flee from any business that charges you a commission in addition to an “exchange margin” (difference between the price for which the bank paid the currency and the price for which it sells it to you) or that advertises ” No Commission”, but then you get the “key” with the exchange rate applied.

The best thing is that you try, every day, to see the rates of your bank with those of the currency suppliers that collaborate with Comparer Devise. None of them charge commissions and they also have smaller structures to maintain, so they can offer you much better prices.

Euro to Mexican peso rate today

To know the Euro to Mexican peso or Peso to Euro exchange rates, the best thing you can do is use our currency comparator.

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