1 ARA #7

Front

The 1 Austral note features stylized indigenous Argentine motifs including geometric patterns and a schematic representation of traditional textile designs. The front displays an armadillo (quirquincho) at right, an animal native to Argentina and symbolic of the country's fauna. The denomination 'Un Austral' appears prominently, with the issuer 'BANCO CENTRAL DE LA REPUBLICA ARGENTINA' printed vertically at left.

Back

Allegorical female figure representing Liberty, seated and holding a staff with the Phrygian cap, surrounded by laurel branches and the Argentine flag. This classical republican iconography has been used on Argentine currency since the 19th century. The Argentine coat of arms appears at lower left, with agricultural elements (wheat sheaves) representing Argentina's agricultural wealth. The text 'REPUBLICA ARGENTINA' appears vertically at right.

History

The Austral was introduced on June 15, 1985, replacing the Peso Argentino at a rate of 1 Austral = 1,000 Pesos Argentinos, as part of the Austral Plan to combat hyperinflation under President Raúl Alfonsín. The currency was named after the geographical term for 'southern' (austral). Despite initial stabilization efforts, Argentina experienced renewed hyperinflation in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Austral was replaced by the Peso Convertible (also called simply Peso) on January 1, 1992, at a rate of 1 Peso = 10,000 Australes. The 1 Austral note was the lowest denomination of this series and featured a design emphasizing Argentina's indigenous heritage and republican traditions.