Ecuador uses the United States dollar as its official currency . However, the country also issues its own coins for denominations less than a dollar, called Ecuadorian centavos.
Here’s a breakdown of coins used in Ecuador:
- Ecuadorian Centavos:
– These coins are minted in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 centavos.
– They are equivalent in value to their U.S. cent counterparts and are designed to be the same size and weight as U.S. coins.
– They circulate alongside U.S. coins within Ecuador but are not accepted as legal tender in the United States.
- United States Coins:
– All denominations of U.S. coins (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and even dollar coins) are accepted and circulate in Ecuador.
– Interestingly, U.S. dollar coins, though rarely used in the U.S., are commonly seen in circulation in Ecuador.
Historical Context:
- Before 2000, Ecuador’s currency was the Sucre.
- High inflation and economic instability led Ecuador to adopt the U.S. dollar as its official currency in 2000.
In essence, when referring to a “Republica del Ecuador coin,” you might be referring to either:
- A collectible coin from the Sucre era: Many collectible coins from this period are available for purchase, such as the Republica Del Ecuador 50 Centavos coin from 2000, the Foreign Exchange 1975 Ecuador Coin, or the 1964 Ecuador Sucre Coin.
- A modern Ecuadorian centavo coin: These are the coins currently in circulation in Ecuador alongside U.S. coins.
Can you use Ecuadorian coins in the US?
These coins cannot be used in the United States so try to spend them while you are here in Ecuador. There are some fake US dollar bills floating around the economy in Ecuador. Although this is uncommon, do check the bills that are given to you in change, especially from taxi drivers or informal vendors.
What is the official coin of Ecuador?
I can help with that. Although all US currency is used and accepted in Ecuador, the Ecuadorian Government issues their own coins called centavos. A centavo is equal to that of a cent.
What was the currency in Ecuador before 2000?
The Sucre (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈsukre]) was the currency of Ecuador between 1884 and 2000. Its ISO code was ECS and it was subdivided into 10 decimos and 100 centavos. The sucre was named after Latin American political leader Antonio José de Sucre.