1 HNL #242

Front

Lempira (died 1537), indigenous Lenca chief who led resistance against Spanish conquistadors in the 1530s in what is now western Honduras. He became a national hero and symbol of indigenous resistance; the Honduran currency is named in his honor. He is depicted wearing a traditional feathered headdress with geometric patterns. The coat of arms of Honduras appears at left, featuring the Masonic triangle with tools, volcanic peaks, and cornucopias, surrounded by the inscription 'REPUBLICA DE HONDURAS LIBRE SOBERANA E INDEPENDIENTE' dated September 15, 1821 (independence day).

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Ruins of Copán, the ancient Maya archaeological site in western Honduras near the Guatemalan border. This pre-Columbian city flourished during the Classic Period (5th-9th centuries CE) and was one of the most important centers of Maya civilization, known for its sculptured decorations, hieroglyphic stairway, and stelae. The vignette depicts a carved Maya stela with hieroglyphic inscriptions standing among temple structures and plazas. The inscription 'RUINAS DE COPAN / JUEGO DE PELOTA / ESCALINATA' (Ruins of Copán / Ball Court / Stairway) identifies specific architectural features of the site, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.

History

This note belongs to the 1994-2004 Lempira series issued by the Banco Central de Honduras. The series maintained the design tradition of featuring the national hero Lempira on the obverse and important Honduran cultural and natural heritage sites on the reverse. The 1 Lempira denomination was the lowest-value note in circulation during this period. The series was gradually replaced starting in the mid-2000s with updated designs incorporating enhanced security features. Notes dated 1998 were part of a regular production run during a period of relative monetary stability for Honduras.