See also: Historical exchange rates of Argentine currency.
| Local Name: | peso ley argentino |
| Local Name Lang: | es |
| Image 1: | ARG0287-Ao.jpg |
| Iso Code: | ARY |
| Iso Comment: | (informally) |
| Iso Ref: | [1] |
| Date Of Introduction: | January 1, 1970 |
| Using Countries: | Argentina |
| Subunit Name 1: | centavo |
| Symbol: | $L |
| Symbol Subunit 1: | ¢ |
| Used Coins: | 1, 5, 10, 20 50 centavos, 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 pesos |
| Used Banknotes: | 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10 000, 50 000, 100 000, 500 000, 1 000 000 pesos |
| Issuing Authority: | Banco Central de la República Argentina |
| Replaced Currency: | Argentine peso moneda nacional |
| Date Of Withdrawal: | May 5, 1983 |
| Replaced By Currency: | Argentine peso |
| Obsolete: | yes |
The peso ley 18.188 (ARY; unofficially ARL; Spanish; Castilian: peso ley dieciocho mil ciento ochenta y ocho), usually known as either peso or, to distinguish it from the earlier peso moneda nacional, informally as peso ley, was the currency of Argentina between January 1, 1970, and May 5, 1983. It was subdivided into 100 centavos. Its symbol was $L, sometimes $. Its name comes from law 18188 which established it, effective April 5, 1969.
The peso ley replaced the peso moneda nacional at a rate of 100 to 1. It was itself replaced by the peso argentino at a rate of 10,000 to 1.
The history of the various successive Argentine currencies called peso is detailed in the article on the Argentine peso.
In 1970 coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 centavos. As inflation eroded the currency's value, higher denominations were introduced: 1 peso in 1974, 5 and 10 pesos in 1976, and 50 and 100 pesos in 1978.
| Value | Obverse | Emission start date | Withdrawn | Composition | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty | 1 Jan 1970 | 31 Oct 1979 | Aluminium | 16mm |
| 5 | 18 May 1970 | 18mm | |||
| 10 | 1 Jan 1970 | Brass | 17mm | ||
| 20 | 18 May 1970 | 19mm | |||
| 50 | 1 Jan 1970 | 21mm |
| Value | Obverse | Emission start date | Withdrawn | Composition | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun | 1 Oct 1974 | 2 Jan 1984 | Aluminium-Brass | 23mm |
| 5 | Sun | 12 Apr 1976 | 24mm | ||
| Guillermo Brown | 1977 | 24mm | |||
| 10 | Sun | 12 Jul 1976 | 26mm | ||
| Guillermo Brown | 1977 | 26mm | |||
| 50 | José de San Martín Bicentennial | 1 Aug 1978 | 27mm | ||
| Conquest of the Desert centennial | 1979 | 27mm | |||
| José de San Martín | 1979 | 27mm | |||
| 1980 | Brass-Clad Steel | 27mm | |||
| 100 | José de San Martín Bicentennial | 1 Aug 1978 | Aluminium-Bronze | 28mm | |
| Conquest of the Desert centennial | 1979 | 28mm | |||
| José de San Martín | 1979 | 28mm | |||
| 1980 | Brass-Clad Steel | 28mm |
Banknotes were issued in the following denominations:
| Obverse | Reverse | Value | Portrait | Back | Emission start date | Withdrawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manuel Belgrano | Nahuel Huapi Lake | 30 Jan 1970 | 1 Apr 1981 | ||
| 5 | National Flag Memorial in Rosario | 24 Nov 1971 | ||||
| 10 | Iguazu Falls | 1 Sep 1970 | ||||
| 50 | José de San Martín | Termas de Reyes (Jujuy) | 15 Mar 1972 | |||
| 100 | Ushuaia | 15 Feb 1971 | ||||
| 500 | Cerro de la Gloria (Mendoza) | 30 Nov 1972 | 2 Apr 1984 | |||
| 1000 | Plaza de Mayo (Buenos Aires) | 27 Nov 1973 | ||||
| 5000 | Mar del Plata | 12 Dec 1977 | ||||
| 10,000 | El Palmar National Park (Entre Ríos) | 25 Oct 1976 | 19 Jul 1985 | |||
| 50,000 | Argentine Central Bank | 19 Feb 1979 | ||||
| 100,000 | National Mint House | 1 Nov 1979 | ||||
| 500,000 | Buenos Aires foundation | 28 Jul 1980 | ||||
| 1,000,000 | May Revolution | 25 Nov 1981 |