What is the currency of Peru?

The currency of Peru is the sol. Its currency symbol is S/, its ISO 4217 code is PEN, and one sol is divided into 100 céntimos.

The modern sol entered circulation on 1 July 1991, replacing the inti after severe economic problems and hyperinflation in the late 1980s. At first, it was officially called the nuevo sol, or “new sol,” to distinguish it from an earlier Peruvian currency called the sol, which was used from 1863 to 1985. Peru’s Congress officially shortened the name to sol in 2015.

The word sol has an interesting double association. It resembles the Latin word solidus, the name of an ancient Roman coin, while sol also means “sun” in Spanish. That solar connection echoed the Inca sun deity Inti and helped give the currency a distinctly Peruvian cultural reference. The sol is issued by Peru’s Central Reserve Bank, and common banknotes include denominations of 10, 20, 50, and 100 soles.