Collection | Outstanding Pieces

The Argentine Flag and its Creator

Piece selected by topic

At the Museum of the Central Bank you can be acquainted with pieces related to our national symbols and to influential public figures in Argentina. Among them, we would like to share with you commemorative coins of our national flag and its creator, Manuel Belgrano.

Manuel Belgrano was born in Buenos Aires on June 3, 1770. He was an economist, journalist, politician, lawyer, and military leader in the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata. He created the Argentine flag in Rosario, on February 27, 1812 during the revolutionary movements of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata towards independence.

In Argentina, we commemorate the creation of our national symbol on June 20. This day is a public holiday in memory of its creator who died on that very day in 1820.*

In the rooms that follow you will find:

Room 4 | Argentine Currency at Present

In this room, you can see pieces of currency, which are now in circulation and display pictures of the flag or its creator: the $10 banknote and the $50banknote.

10 “pesos convertibles” reverse design. The foreground design is engraved in intaglio and the background, in offset. The Monument to the Flag, Gral. Belgrano’s abridged biography in micro letters, a drum and typical knitting from the north of Argentina are displayed.

AR$10 obverse design | 2016. The foreground design is engraved in intaglio and the background, in offset. The center displays General Manuel Belgrano’s portrait and the background shows, as a security measure, a picture of the front part of the Monument to the Flag.

AR$10 reverse design | 2016. The foreground design is engraved in intaglio and the background, in offset. The main figure recalls the creation of the flag—the hoisting of the national flag for the first time—and shows the picture of Juana Azurduy.

AR$50 reverse design. The foreground design is engraved in intaglio and the background, in offset. The main figure depicts the Gaucho Antonio Rivero holding the Argentine Flag.

Room 3 | Conservative Republic and the 20th Century

In this room you will find the five pieces that follow:

10 “pesos convertibles” obverse design. The foreground design is engraved in intaglio and the background, in offset. The center displays the hero’s portrait and the background features a replica of a report from Gral. Belgrano to the government of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata.

10,000 “Pesos Argentinos” banknote (1985). It is printed in violet-bluish ink and measures 75 x 155 mm (2.95 x 6.10 in).

5 “Pesos Ley 18.188” banknote (1971). It is printed in blue ink and measures 75 x 155 mm (2.95 x 6.10 in).

10 “Pesos Ley 18.188” banknote (1970). It is printed in blue ink and measures 75 x 155 mm (2.95 x 6.10 in).

500 pesos banknote issued by domestic guaranteed banks. Restamped by the Caja de Conversión in 1891. It is printed in brown-pinkish and golden ink and measures 100 x 200 mm (3.93 x 7.87 in).

Room 2 | Independence and National Organization

In this room you will find the following piece:

200 “Pesos Fuertes” banknote (1869)

*source: Instituto Nacional Belgraniano. http://manuelbelgrano.gov.ar/