| Local Name: | lempira hondureño |
| Replaced Currency: | Honduran peso |
| Local Name Lang: | es |
| Image 1: | File:200 lempira bill.png |
| Image Title 1: | 200 lempira banknote |
| Iso Code: | HNL |
| Date Of Introduction: | 1931 |
| Using Countries: |  Honduras |
| Inflation Rate: | 7.7% |
| Inflation Source Date: | Central Bank of Honduras, June 2011. |
| Subunit Name 1: | centavo |
| Symbol: | L |
| Used Coins: | 5, 10, 20, 50 centavos |
| Used Banknotes: | L1, L2, L5, L10, L20, L50, L100, L200, L500 |
| Printer: | [1] |
| Issuing Authority: | Central Bank of Honduras |
The lempira (sign: L, ISO 4217 code: HNL;pronounced as /es/) is the currency of Honduras. It is subdivided into 100 centavos.[2]
The lempira was named after the 16th-century cacique Lempira, a ruler of the indigenous Lenca people, who is renowned in Honduran folklore for leading the local native resistance against the Spanish conquistador forces. He is a national hero and is honored on both the 1 lempira note and the 20 and 50 centavos coins.
The lempira was introduced in 1931, replacing the peso at par. In the late 1980s, the exchange rate was two lempiras to the United States dollar (the 20-centavos coin is called a daime as it was worth the same as a U.S. dime). As of April 4, 2022, the lempira was quoted at 24.40 HNL to US$1.[3]
In 1931, coins were introduced in denominations of 5, 20 & 50 centavos, and 1 lempira. One, 2 and 10 centavos coins were added in 1935, 1939 and 1932, respectively. The silver 1 lempira coins ceased production in 1937, with the other silver coins (20 & 50 centavos) replaced by cupro-nickel in 1967. The 1 and 2 centavos coins were last minted in 1998 and 1974, respectively.
Coins of the following denominations are currently legal tender.[4] However as of 2024 coins are only very rarely used for payments. In practice only banknotes are used.
The Bank of Honduras and the Banco Atlantida issued the first lempira banknotes in 1932. They were in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 lempiras. The Central Bank of Honduras took over production of paper money in 1950, introducing 50 and 100 lempiras notes in 1950, followed by the 500-lempiras note in 1995.
In January, 2010, a new 20-lempira note was introduced to market made by a polymer base, 60 million notes were issued.[5]
In celebration of the Bicentennial anniversary of Honduras's independence, a new 200 lempira bill was issued.[6] It features 2 scarlet macaws, the national bird of Honduras.[7]
Banknotes in circulation are[8] [9]
| Image | New | Value | Color | Dimensions | Obverse | Reverse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L1 | Red | 156 × 67 mm | Lempira | Copán | ||
| L2 | Purple | Marco Aurelio Soto | Amapala | |||
| L5 | Gray | Francisco Morazán | Battle of La Trinidad | |||
| L10 | Brown | José Trinidad Cabañas | Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras | |||
| L20 | Green | Dionisio de Herrera | Presidential palace | |||
| L50 | Blue | Juan Manuel Gálvez | Central Bank of Honduras | |||
| L100 | Orange | José Cecilio del Valle | Casa Valle | |||
| L200 | Turquoise | 2 Scarlet Macaws | Banco Central de Honduras | |||
| L500 | Violet | Ramón Rosa | San Juancito |