Macanese pataca

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Macanese pataca
澳門圓 (Chinese)
pataca macaense (Portuguese)
ISO 4217 Code MOP
User(s) Flag of Macau Macau
Inflation 4.4%
Source The World Factbook, 2005
Pegged with Hong Kong dollar = MOP$1.03
Subunit
1/100 avo
Symbol MOP$
Plural patacas (Portuguese only)
avo avos (Portuguese only)
Coins
Freq. used 10, 20, 50 avos, MOP$1, MOP$5, MOP$10
Rarely used MOP$2
Banknotes MOP$10, MOP$20, MOP$50, MOP$100, MOP$500, MOP$1000
Monetary authority Monetary Authority of Macao
Website www.amcm.gov.mo

The pataca is the currency of Macau (Chinese: 圓, ISO 4217 code: MOP). It is subdivided into 100 avos (Cantonese: 仙, sin), with 10 avos called 毫 (ho) in Cantonese. Monetary policy is managed by the Monetary Authority of Macao. The abbreviation MOP$ is commonly used.

In order to ensure the foreign exchange capabilities of the Macanese pataca, it is provided by the Macau Government that the issuance of Macau currency must by backed by a 100 per cent reserve fund, such as valuable metals, bonds and securities and foreign exchange.

Contents

The name "pataca" is derived from a formerly popular silver coin in Asia, the Mexican peso (eight reales), known in Portuguese as the pataca mexicana. The pataca was also used in Portuguese Timor, now East Timor, until 1957, when it was replaced by the escudo. The Chinese name for the currency is yuan (圓), which is the same word for Chinese yuan, New Taiwan dollar and Hong Kong dollar. People in Hong Kong or Macau, however, usually refer the Macanese pataca as "Portuguese money" (葡幣), probably because Macau was once a Portuguese colony.

The pataca was introduced in 1894 as a unit of account. It was initially equivalent to the Mexican peso, Spanish dollar and Hong Kong dollar, and replaced the Portuguese real at a rate of 1 pataca = 450 réis. The Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU; 大西洋銀行) began issuing banknotes in 1906.

Until 1935, the pataca was pegged to the Hong Kong dollar at par. A succession of pegs to the Portuguese escudo followed, before the Hong Kong dollar was readopted as the peg.

Pegs for the Macanese pataca
Date established 1 pataca =
1894 1 Hong Kong dollar
1935 5.5 Portuguese escudos
1949 5 Portuguese escudos
1967 4.75 Portuguese escudos
1973 5.015 Portuguese escudos
1 Hong Kong dollar =
1977 1.075 patacas
1978 1.0025 patacas
1979 1.0425 patacas
1983 1.03 patacas

In 1980, the Macau Government transferred the exclusive right to issue patacas to the Instituto Emissor de Macau (IEM). The BNU became the IEM's agent bank and continued to issue banknotes. On agreement with the BNU on October 16, 1995, Bank of China, Macau branch (中國銀行澳門分行), became the second note-issuing bank. The authority to issue patacas was transferred to the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM).

Coins were not issued for use in Macau until 1952, with the 20 cent coin of Canton Province circulating. In 1952, bronze 5 and 10 avos, cupro-nickel 50 avos and .720 fineness silver 1 and 5 patacas were introduced. Nickel-brass replaced bronze in 1967, including the last issue of 5 avos. Nickel replaced silver in the 1 pataca in 1968. In 1971, a final (.650 fineness) silver issue of 5 patacas was produced.

Brass 10, 20 and 50 avos and cupro-nickel 1 and 5 patacas were introduced in 1982. The 20 avos and 5 patacas became dodecagonal in 1993 and 1992, respectively, whilst a bimetallic 10 patacas was introduced in 1997 and a cupronickel 2 patacas in 1998. Coins are issued by the Monetary Authority of Macao.

Currently Circulating Coins
Value Composition Obverse Reverse First Minted Year
10 avos Brass "Macau", "澳門" Value , Lion Dance Costume Head 1993
20 avos Denomination , Dragon boat
50 avos Denomination , Lion dance
MOP$1 Cupronickel "Macau", "澳門" Value , Guia Lighthouse 1992
MOP$2 Denomination , Templo de A-Má 1998
MOP$5 Denomination , Cathedral of Saint Paul, Chinese junk 1992
MOP$10 Ring: Brass
Center: Cupronickel
"Macau", "澳門" Value , St. Dominic Church of Macau 1997

On January 27, 1906, 1, 5, 50 and 100 pataca notes were introduced by the Banco Nacional Ultramarino. These were followed in 1907 by 10 and 25 pataca notes. In February 1920, 5, 10 and 50 avo notes were added.

In 1923, the Banco Vui Hang introduced 10 pataca notes which stated that they were backed by Cantonese 20 cent coins[1]. These notes were followed until 1934 by cashier's cheques issued by various banks in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1000 dollars, presumably equivalent to the pataca. In 1944, further cashier's cheques were issued, denominated 1000 yuan and NC$5000.

The BNU issues were augmented by 1 and 20 avo notes in 1942. In 1944, 500 pataca notes were introduced. Denominations below 10 patacas were replaced by coins in 1952. The 25 pataca note was discontinued after 1958.

On August 8, 1988, BNU issued a 1000 pataca banknote, the highest value banknote yet. Because 8 in Chinese (Ba) is similar to "getting rich" (Fa; 發), this unique date, which occurs only once per century, gives the note a special meaning. Another feature is the replacement of the Coat of arms of Portugal with BNU's logo, symbolizing the fact that Macau would become part of the People's Republic of China. In 1995, the Banco da China introduced notes in denominations of 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 patacas. Both the BNU and Banco da China introduced 20 pataca notes in 1996.

Banknotes are currently issued in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 patacas. Banknotes are issued by the Banco Nacional Ultramarino and the Bank of China. The current series of BNU banknotes was issued in 2005, while the Bank of China notes were last issued between 1995 and 2003. The physical sizes of the banknotes are "coincidentally" the same as that of Hong Kong banknotes. On December 20, 1999, the day Macau was retroceded to China, banknotes of all values (except for 10 patacas) by both banks were reissued with that date.

Banco Nacional Ultramarino 1990 Series Banknote (being withdrawn)
Value Dimensions Color Obverse Reverse Printed Date Watermark
MOP$10 138 × 69 mm Brown Dr. Sun Memorial Hall A view of Macau in the 90's, Ponte Governador Nobre de Carvalho July 8, 1991 Chinese junk
Red, Violet January 8, 2001
June 8, 2003
MOP$20 143 × 71.5 mm Violet Old BNU headquarter September 1, 1996
December 20, 1999
June 8, 2003?
MOP$50 148 × 74 mm Yellow Lion dance July 13, 1992
December 20, 1999
June 8, 2003?
MOP$100 153 × 76.5 mm Blue Chinese junk July 13, 1992
December 20, 1999
June 8, 2003
MOP$500 158 × 79 mm Green, yellow, orange Templo de A-Má September 3, 1990
December 20, 1999
June 8, 2003
MOP$1000 163 × 81.5 mm Red Dragon July 8, 1991
December 20, 1999
June 8, 2003
Bank of China 1995 Series Banknote
Value Dimensions Color Obverse Reverse Printed Date Watermark
MOP$10 138 × 69 mm Brown Guia Lighthouse and Monte fort Bank of China, Macau branch October 16, 1995 Lotus
Red, orange January 8, 2001
February 2, 2002
December 8, 2003
MOP$20 143 × 71.5 mm Violet Templo de A-Má September 1, 1996
December 20, 1999
December 8, 2003
MOP$50 148 × 74 mm Yellow-grey University of Macau October 16, 1995
November 1, 1997
December 20, 1999
December 8, 2003
MOP$100 153 × 76.5 mm Blue Jetfoil terminal October 16, 1995
December 20, 1999
February 2, 2002
December 8, 2003
MOP$500 158 × 79 mm Green Ponte de Amizade October 16, 1995
December 20, 1999
February 2, 2002
December 8, 2003
MOP$1000 163 × 81.5 mm Orange Sai Van (Praia de Bom Porto) October 16, 1995
December 20, 1999
December 8, 2003
Banco Nacional Ultramarino 2005 Series Banknote
Value Dimensions Color Obverse Reverse Printed Date
MOP$10 138 × 69 mm Yellow/Purple Statue of Deusa A-Má of Macau BNU building August 8, 2005
MOP$20 143 × 71.5 mm Violet Macau International Airport August 8, 2005
MOP$100 153 × 76.5 mm Blue Largo do Senado August 8, 2005
MOP$500 158 × 79 mm Green Macau Tower August 8, 2005
MOP$1000 163 × 81.5 mm Orange Macau Cultural Centre August 8, 2005

The 2005 series of BNU was printed by Royal Joh. Enschedé, a security printing firm in the Netherlands.

The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the pataca against the pound sterling and the United States dollar:

Date May, 1980[2] Feb, 2003 May, 2003 Aug, 2003 Nov, 2003
£1.00 11.60 12.79 13.15 13.24 13.94
US$1.00 5.20 8.03 8.03 8.30 8.25

Despite the fact that the pataca is the official currency of Macau, most of the money in circulation in the territory is actually Hong Kong dollars. Patacas accounted for only 29.9% of Macau's money supply at the end of 1998.

Current MOP exchange rates
Use Yahoo! Finance: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD CNY
Use XE.com: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD CNY
Use OANDA.com: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD CNY

The exchange rate is pegged and is approximately MOP$103 for HK$100 as of February 2004. For United States dollars, to which the Hong Kong dollar is in turn loosely pegged, the exchange rate is around 8 patacas to 1 US dollar. While it is possible to exchange patacas in Macau, it is difficult, if not impossible, to do so outside the territory, even in Hong Kong.

Despite the pataca being the legal currency of Macau, the Hong Kong dollar is preferred for most commerce. Some casinos go as far as rejecting bets from people equipped with the MOP currency. These people may overcome this by exchanging their patacas into Hong Kong dollars at the nearest currency exchange agency. The Hong Kong dollar and Chinese renminbi are generally accepted throughout Macau from casinos to restaurants.

As there are currently no restrictions on the import or export of either local or foreign currency into or from Macau, visitors can change their currency in hotels, banks and authorized exchange dealers located all around the city. There are also 24-hour exchange counters at Macau International Airport (Taipa Island) and at the Lisboa Hotel (Macau Peninsula) for customers if they want to change their currency into patacas outside working hours.

  1. ^ Dez patacas em moedas subsidiaris de 20 avos de cantão.
  2. ^ Wheeler, Tony. South-East Asia on a Shoestring. 3rd ed. Melbourne: Lonely Planet, 1980.


Preceded by:
Mexican peso, Spanish dollar, Hong Kong dollar
Reason: creation of a local currency
Ratio: at par
Currency of Macau
1906
Note: the pataca was made the unit of account in 1894
Succeeded by:
Current
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