10 Austral #12

Front

Manuel Belgrano (1770–1820), Argentine economist, lawyer, politician and military leader who created the flag of Argentina and led the Army of the North during the wars of independence against Spain. He is one of Argentina's most revered founding fathers, honored on multiple currency issues for his role in establishing the nation's independence and national symbols. The design includes guilloche patterns and the denomination '10' with 'Diez Australes' in a decorative panel.

Back

Allegorical female figure representing Liberty or the Argentine Republic, depicted in classical style with flowing robes and surrounded by agricultural and industrial symbols including wheat sheaves and industrial implements. This allegorical representation was common on Argentine banknotes of the period, symbolizing the nation's progress, abundance, and republican values. The denomination '10' and 'Diez Australes' appear prominently in the design.

History

The Austral was introduced on June 15, 1985, by President Raúl Alfonsín's government as part of the Austral Plan to combat hyperinflation, replacing the Peso Argentino at a rate of 1 Austral = 1,000 Pesos Argentinos. The currency was named after the Spanish word for 'southern' and used the symbol ₳. Despite initial success, hyperinflation resumed by 1989, reaching over 3,000% annually. The Austral was replaced by the Peso Convertible (current Argentine Peso) in 1992 at a rate of 1 Peso = 10,000 Australes. This 10 Australes note is part of the original series issued by Casa de Moneda and represents a brief but significant period in Argentine monetary history.