You’re in the supermarket line in Colombia and when paying, you receive “change” that ends up forgotten in the drawer or at the bottom of your bag. Knowing the types of coins in Colombia not only helps you recognize their value, but also to make the most of every Colombian peso.
In this article, you’ll learn about their history, meaning, how to take care of them, and even what to do with them so they don’t become just a simple “burden.”
Imagine you have a 500-peso coin in your pocket.
It may seem small, insignificant, but behind it lies more than 200 years of history.
Like a silent witness, coins have passed from hand to hand as the country grew, reinvented itself, and faced each stage of its history.
1810: The peso becomes the official currency of Colombia, replacing the real.
1837: The exchange is established at 1 peso = 8 reales.
1847 - 1853: The decimal system is born. The real is transformed into a “tenth.”
1872: For the first time, the peso is officially divided into 100 centavos.
Then came a dance of economic and monetary reforms that shaped our current system:
1871: Colombia adopts the gold standard, tying its currency to the French franc.
1880-1909: Institutions such as the National Bank and later the Amortization Board arise, seeking to stabilize the value of money.
1923: The Bank of the Republic is created, with the help of the Kemmerer mission, consolidating the foundations of our financial system.
1931: The gold standard is abandoned, and the peso is linked to the dollar.
1993: The phrases “peso oro” and “will pay the bearer” are eliminated from banknotes.
And how are our coins made today?
Since 1982, the "Casa de la Moneda" of Ibagué has been responsible for producing the planchets (the unminted metal discs). This modern and robust plant has manufactured coins for countries such as Spain and Costa Rica.
There are many coins in the world, however, in the case of the Colombian peso, these carry significant meaning by honoring the country’s biodiversity.
Carrying these coins in your pocket is like carrying a piece of our nature. The current coins (put into circulation in 2012) celebrate the natural wealth of Colombia:
50-pesos coin
Features a spectacled bear, a symbol of our mountains, and on the reverse, the value is framed by the words “República de Colombia” and the year of minting.
📏 Diameter: 17 mm | Thickness: 1.17 mm | Weight: 2 g
🔩 Composition: Steel and nickel
A design that celebrates Andean biodiversity with precision and respect for nature.
100-pesos coin
Featuring the frailejón, a plant essential for the water balance of our Andean ecosystems. On the reverse, the value and the country’s inscription.
📏 Diameter: 20.3 mm | Thickness: 1.35 mm | Weight: 3.34 g
🔩 Composition: Steel and brass
The frailejón, which adorns our páramos, becomes an ambassador of our ecological identity.
200-pesos coin
Highlights the scarlet macaw, a colorful Amazonian bird in danger of extinction. On the reverse, the value and the national mark.
📏 Diameter: 22.4 mm | Thickness: 2.1 mm | Weight: 4.61 g
🔩 Composition: Alpaca
This coin reminds us, with every exchange, of the beauty and fragility of our wildlife.
500-pesos coin
A glass frog inhabits this design, representing the diversity of the Colombian Andes.
📏 Diameter: 23.7 mm | Thickness: 2.1 mm | Weight: 7.14 g
🔩 Composition:
Crown: Alpaca
Core: 92% Copper, 6% Aluminum, 2% Nickel
With wavy details simulating water, this bimetallic coin is a jewel of national numismatics.
1000-pesos coin
The loggerhead turtle, a traveler of tropical seas, adorns this bimetallic coin. It represents marine life at risk and the country’s connection to the oceans.
📏 Diameter: 26.7 mm | Thickness: 2.2 mm | Weight: 9.95 g
🔩 Composition:
Crown: Yellow alpaca
Core: White alpaca
It is the highest-denomination metal coin in circulation, and perhaps the one that most connects us with marine ecosystems.
Here you can see the current and past designs of coins in Colombia.
Also still in circulation are coins from previous years, such as:
1000 pesos (1996)
500 pesos (1993)
200 pesos (1994)
100 pesos (1992)
50 pesos (2007)
20 pesos (2004)
10 and 5 pesos
These older coins still roll through the country, as tangible reminders of past decades.
Although the Colombian peso is not close to being a strong international currency, it has also not become the cheapest currency in the world.
Sometimes coins end up forgotten in a drawer, in the couch slot, or inside a shoe. However, taking care of them is important, not only for their economic value but for their role in our culture and financial system.
Avoid doing this:
Using them to scrape, open bottles, or scratch surfaces.
Applying nail polish, markers, or paint.
Exposing them to fire or excessive heat.
Altering them with perforations or bends.
Instead:
Keep them in a coin purse separate from the rest.
Clean them only with a dry cloth, without chemicals or soap.
Teach children to value them, not to see them as “toys.”
Taking care of them is also an act of respect for those who produce them, for their history, and for those who receive them as a means of payment.
Many see coins as a “nuisance.” But if you learn to value them, you will discover that they can get you out of trouble, serve as help, or help you save without realizing it.
Save in a piggy bank
Who didn’t have a piggy bank? Putting in the daily change can turn into important help at the end of the month.
Donate on the street or at traffic lights
A few pesos for someone in need can mean breakfast for the day. Coins are ideal for spontaneous acts of generosity.
Have change for the bus or a small treat
You’re in a hurry, need a coffee or to take the SITP or the MÍO. Who saves you? The change you kept in your wallet!
Quick payment at the store
Sometimes the card reader fails, the bill is too big, or there’s no change. Having coins can make everything faster.
Looking for ways to convert your foreign income into pesos at a good exchange rate? DolarApp is a quick and efficient alternative for all Colombians, with competitive rates and no complicated processes.
Our application allows you to instantly exchange USDc (digital dollars) and EURc (digital euros) to COP (Colombian pesos). In addition, without traditional banking intermediaries, which helps avoid excessive fees.
One of the great advantages of DolarApp is that you won’t pay a fee for making these conversions. You just need to link a local bank account where you can send your money.
So, if you’re looking for an alternative to manage USDc and EURc in Colombia and make international bank transfers, try DolarApp.
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