Macanese pataca

Macanese pataca
澳門元 (Chinese)
Pataca de Macau (Portuguese)[1]
1 pataca coin 2007
ISO 4217
CodeMOP (numeric: 446)
Subunit0.01
Unit
Unitpataca
Pluralpatacas (Portuguese only)
Symbol$, MOP$ or 元‎‎
Denominations
Subunit
 1⁄10毫 (Chinese) (ho)
There is no corresponding Portuguese term for ten avos.
 1⁄100仙 (Chinese) (sin) avo (Portuguese)
(no longer in circulation)
Banknotes
 Freq. used$10, $20, $50, $100, $500
 Rarely used$1,000
Coins
 Freq. used10, 50 avos, $1, $5
 Rarely used20 avos, $2, $10 (still minted)
Demographics
User(s) Macau (alongside Hong Kong Dollar)[2][3]
Issuance
Monetary authorityAutoridade Monetária de Macau
 Websitewww.amcm.gov.mo
PrinterIssuing banks:

Banco Nacional Ultramarino
Banco da China
Printer:

Hong Kong Note Printing
Valuation
Inflation0.37%
 SourceDirecção dos Serviços de Estatística e Censos, February 2017
Pegged withHong Kong dollar (HK$)
HK$1 = MOP 1.03
Macanese pataca
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese澳門元
Simplified Chinese澳门元
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinÀomén yuán
Wade–GilesAo4-men2 yüan2
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationOumún yùhn
Jyutpingou3 mun4-2 jyun4
Portuguese name
PortuguesePataca de Macau[1]
Economy of Macau
Currency and identity
Resources
Companies
Other Macau topics

The Macanese pataca or Macau pataca (traditional Chinese: 澳門元; simplified Chinese: 澳门元; Cantonese Yale: Oumún yùhn; pinyin: Aòmén yuán; Portuguese: Pataca de Macau; sign: $; abbreviation: P;[4][5] ISO code: MOP) is the currency of Macau. It is subdivided into 100 avos (仙; sin), with 10 avos called ho (毫) in Cantonese.

Macau has a currency board system under which the pataca is 100 per cent backed by foreign exchange reserves, in this case currently the Hong Kong dollar (itself backed by the United States dollar).[6] Moreover, the currency board, Monetary Authority of Macau (AMCM), has a statutory obligation to issue and redeem Macau pataca on demand against the Hong Kong dollar at a fixed exchange rate of HK$1 = MOP 1.03, and without limit.[7]

History

[edit]

The Spanish dollar was in wide use in Asia and the Americas between the 16th to 20th centuries, and was imported by China in large quantities.[citation needed] They were typically minted in Mexico and then brought to the Philippines as part of the Spanish East Indies through the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade to be traded and circulated across the Far East.[citation needed] It was known to the Portuguese as the pataca mexicana. At the end of the 19th century various versions of this silver dollar or pataca were in use in Macau, in the form of Spanish dollars, the British trade dollars of Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements, as well as the silver dollars and fractional coinage of the neighbouring province of Canton.[citation needed]

In 1894, the pataca was introduced as a unit of account in Portuguese Macau and Portuguese Timor at a rate of 1 pataca = 450 réis, equivalent to the Mexican Peso or Philippine Peso.[citation needed] In 1901, it was decided to have a uniquely Macau currency, and for that purpose, the Banco Nacional Ultramarino was granted exclusive rights to issue legal tender banknotes that were to be denominated in patacas. On January 27, 1906, pataca notes in denominations of 1, 5, 50 and 100 were introduced and all foreign coinage was outlawed, the idea being to make the pataca paper notes the sole legal tender currency in Macau. However, the Chinese, being so accustomed to using silver for barter, were suspicious of this new paper money, and as such, the paper pataca always circulated at a discount in relation to the silver dollar coins. [citation needed]Conversely, a similar action at exactly the same time in the Straits Settlements, and for the same purpose, had the different effect of putting the new Straits dollar into the gold exchange standard. Hence both the Macau pataca and the Straits dollar were launched at a sterling value of 2 shillings and 4 pence, but where the Straits dollar remained at that value until the 1960s, the Macau pataca fluctuated with the value of silver, just like the Hong Kong unit.[citation needed]

In 1935, when Hong Kong and China abandoned the silver standard, the Hong Kong unit was pegged to sterling at a rate of 1 shilling and 3 pence, while the Macau pataca was pegged to the Portuguese escudo at a rate of MOP 1 = Esc 5$50. This meant that the Macau pataca was worth only 1 shilling and was therefore at a discount of 3 pence in relation to the Hong Kong unit.[citation needed]

The first exclusively Macau coinage was not introduced until the year 1952, which happened to be the year after the last pataca fractional coins were minted for East Timor. In that year in Macau, denominations below 10 patacas were replaced by coins.[citation needed]

Pegs for the Macau pataca
Date established 1 pataca =
1894 1 Spanish/Mexican/Philippine peso
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 set up the Issuing Institute of Macau (Instituto Emissor de Macau; abbr. as IEM), which was given the monopoly right to issue pataca notes. The BNU became the IEM's agent bank and continued to issue banknotes.[8] On agreement with the BNU on October 16, 1995, the Macau branch of Bank of China (Banco da China, 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 Macau.

Coins

[edit]

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.

  • 10 Avos, 1968
    10 Avos, 1968
  • 50 Avos, 1978
    50 Avos, 1978
  • 1 Pataca, 1952
    1 Pataca, 1952
  • 5 Patacas, 1971
    5 Patacas, 1971

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 Macau.

  • 10 Avos, 1988
    10 Avos, 1988
  • 20 Avos, 1982
    20 Avos, 1982
  • 50 Avos, 1982
    50 Avos, 1982
Currently circulating coins
Image Value Description First Minted Year
Obverse Reverse Composition Obverse Reverse
10 avos Brass "Macau", "澳門" Value, Lion Dance Costume Head 1993
(missing photo) (missing photo) 20 avos Denomination, Dragon boat
50 avos Denomination, Dragon dance
$1 Cupronickel Value, Guia Lighthouse 1992
(missing photo) (missing photo) $2 Denomination, Templo de A-Má and Penha church 1998
$5 Denomination, Cathedral of Saint Paul, Chinese junk 1992
(missing photo) (missing photo) $10 Ring: Brass
Center: Cupronickel		 Value, St. Dominic's Church of Macau 1997

Banknotes

[edit]
Both sides of $100 issued by BNU on July 13, 1992

In a similar arrangement to the issue of banknotes in Hong Kong, Macau's banknotes are not issued by a central bank or monetary authority but by two commercial banks, the Banco Nacional Ultramarino and the Bank of China. Owing to Macau's Portuguese colonial past, banknotes are printed in Portuguese as well as Chinese, including the name of the Bank of China which is written as both "Banco da China" and "中國銀行".[9][10][11]

Following the initial issues of pataca banknotes in 1906, the new currency was supplemented the following year by 10 and 25 pataca notes, and 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.[12] 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 1,000 dollars, presumably equivalent to the pataca. The BNU issues were augmented by 1 and 20 avo notes in 1942, and in 1944, 500 pataca notes were introduced. Also in 1944, further cashier's cheques were issued, denominated 1,000 yuan and NC$5,000. 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, shedding a political symbol in the prospect of reunification with China. In 1995, the Bank of China introduced notes in denominations of 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 patacas. Both the BNU and Banco of China introduced 20 pataca notes in 1996.

Current issue

[edit]

Banknotes are currently issued in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 patacas. The current series of BNU banknotes was issued in 2005, while the Bank of China notes were last issued between 1995 and 2003. The dimensions of the banknotes are the same as that of Hong Kong banknotes worth the corresponding number of dollars. 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. On January 5, 2009, the Monetary Authority of Macau announced a new series of banknotes, dated 2008, released by the Bank of China.[13] In 2024, both the Banco Nacional Ultramarino and the Bank of China (Macau) are set to introduce a new series of notes. The denomination structure is the same as previous issues, but the notes come with advanced security features and include features accessible for those with visual impairments.

Banco Nacional Ultramarino 1990 Series Banknote
Value Description Printed Date Watermark
Dimensions Color Obverse Reverse
$10 138 × 69 mm Brown Sun Yat Sen Memorial House A view of Macau in the 1990s, Ponte Governador Nobre de Carvalho 8 July 1991 Chinese junk
$10 Red, Violet 8 January 2001
8 June 2003
$20 143 × 71.5 mm Violet Old BNU headquarters 1 September 1996
20 December 1999
8 June 2003
$50 148 × 74 mm Yellow Lion dance 13 July 1992
20 December 1999
$100 153 × 76.5 mm Blue Chinese junk 13 July 1992
20 December 1999
8 June 2003
$500 158 × 79 mm Green, yellow and orange A-Ma Temple 3 September 1990
20 December 1999
8 June 2003
$1,000 163 × 81.5 mm Red Dragon 8 July 1991
20 December 1999
8 June 2003
Bank of China 1995 Series Banknote
Value Description Printed Date Watermark
Dimensions Color Obverse Reverse
$10 138 × 69 mm Brown Lighthouse at Guia Fortress Bank of China, Macau branch 16 October 1995 Lotus
$10 Red and orange 8 January 2001
2 February 2002
8 December 2003
$20 143 × 71.5 mm Violet A-Ma Temple 1 September 1996
20 December 1999
8 December 2003
$50 148 × 74 mm Yellow-grey University of Macau 16 October 1995
1 November 1997
20 December 1999
$100 153 × 76.5 mm Blue Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal 16 October 1995
20 December 1999
2 February 2002
8 December 2003
$500 158 × 79 mm Green Ponte de Amizade
$1000 163 × 81.5 mm Orange Sai Van (Praia do Bom Parto) 16 October 1995
20 December 1999
8 December 2003
Banco Nacional Ultramarino 2005 Series Banknote
Image Value Description Printed Date Watermark
Obverse Reverse Dimensions Color Obverse Reverse
[1] [2] $10 138 × 69 mm Red Statue of Mazu BNU building 8 August 2005
8 August 2010
11 November 2013
6 November 2017		 Lotus
[3] [4] $20 143 × 71.5 mm Violet Macau International Airport
[5] [6] $50 148 x 74 mm Brown Sai Van Bridge 8 August 2009
11 November 2013
6 November 2017
[7] [8] $100 153 × 76.5 mm Blue Largo do Senado (Senate Square) 8 August 2005
8 August 2010
11 November 2013
6 November 2017
[9] [10] $500 158 × 79 mm Green Macau Tower
[11] [12] $1,000 163 × 81.5 mm Orange Macau Cultural Centre
Bank of China 2008 Series Banknote
Image Value Description Printed Date Watermark
Obverse Reverse Dimensions Color Obverse Reverse
[13] [14] $10 138 × 69 mm Red A-Ma Temple Bank of China, Macau branch 8 August 2008
1 July 2013
6 November 2017		 Lotus
[15] [16] $20 143 × 71.5 mm Violet Façade of the ruins of Saint Paul's Cathedral
[17] [18] $50 148 × 74 mm Brown Dom Pedro V Theatre
[19] [20] $100 153 × 76.5 mm Blue Guia Lighthouse and Monte fort
[21] [22] $500 158 × 79 mm Green Casa do Mandarim (House of the Mandarin)
[23] [24] $1,000 163 × 81.5 mm Orange Legislative Senate
Bank of China 2020 Series Banknote
Value Description Printed Date Watermark
Dimensions Color Obverse Reverse
$10 138 × 69 mm Red brown, dark orange the building of Bank of China in Macau, Southern Lion Macau Tower observation lounge 18 May 2020 Lotus
$20 143 × 71.5 mm Bluish violet Macau Science Center Exhibition Center and the Planetarium
Banco Nacional Ultramarino 2020 Series Banknote
Value Description Printed Date Watermark
Dimensions Color Obverse Reverse
$10 138 × 69 mm Red BNU Building Map of Macau in 1635 18 May 2020 Lotus
$20 143 × 71.5 mm Violet Map of Macau in 1780
$50 148 × 74 mm Brown Map of Macau in 1889
$100 153 × 76.5 mm Blue Map of Macau in 1949
$500 158 × 79 mm Green Map of Macau in 1986
$1,000 163 × 81.5 mm Orange Map of Macau in 2022

Commemorative issues

[edit]

In 2008, the Macau branch of the Bank of China issued four million 20 pataca banknotes in commemoration of the 29th Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.[14]

In 2012, the Banco Nacional Ultramarino and Banco da China issued ten million 10 pataca banknotes to commemorate the Year of the Dragon, and from 2012 to 2023, the Banco National Ultramarino and the Banco da China are each authorized to issue a maximum number of 20 million special notes with the face value of 10 patacas to mark each lunar new year.[15] The Bank of China also issued a 100 pataca banknote to commemorate its centennial anniversary.[16][17][18]

In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the transfer of Macau to the People's Republic of China, the Banco Nacional Ultramarino and the Banco da China issued five million 20 patacas banknotes. The front side of the notes feature the 7-ton gilded bronze sculpture "Lotus Flower In Full Bloom", representing the prosperity of Macau. The back side of the notes feature the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

Exchange rate

[edit]
Current MOP exchange rates
From Google Finance: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD TWD KRW SGD
From Yahoo! Finance: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD TWD KRW SGD
From XE.com: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD TWD KRW SGD
From OANDA: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD TWD KRW SGD

Despite the fact that the pataca is the official currency of Macau, most of the money in circulation in the Region is actually Hong Kong dollars. Patacas accounted for only 29.9% of Macau's money supply at the end of 1998.[19] The exchange rate is pegged and is approximately MOP 1.03 for HK$1,[20] and Hong Kong dollar banknotes and coins are generally accepted at par or MOP 1.00 for retail payments. For United States dollars, to which the Hong Kong dollar is in turn loosely pegged, the exchange rate is around MOP 8 to 1 US dollar. Although it is possible to exchange patacas in Macau, it is either difficult or impossible to do so elsewhere. The few places in Hong Kong where patacas are available are concentrated on Cleverly Street in Central, a short distance from the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal.

Although the pataca is the legal tender of Macau, the Hong Kong dollar is almost universally acceptable in the region, and in some cases, is preferred to the pataca.[21] Circulation of the pataca is mandated by a decree (Decreto-Lei n.º 16/95/M) prohibiting refusal by merchants, but some casinos flout this rule and refuse bets in patacas.[22] The Hong Kong dollar and Chinese yuan are generally accepted throughout Macau from casinos to restaurants. Payments to government agencies can also be made in both Hong Kong dollars and patacas.

As Macau currently imposes no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency, visitors can change their currency in hotels, banks and bureaux de change located all around the city including 24 hour currency exchange booths 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.

MOP annual average middle exchange rate for major foreign currencies, from 2002 on
(1 foreign currency unit to MOP)
Year 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Hong Kong dollar 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03
Renminbi 0.9706 0.9691 0.9693 0.9778 1.0025 1.0560 1.1546 1.1688
United States dollar 8.0334 8.0214 8.0226 8.0109 8.0006 8.0360 8.0206 7.9842
Pound sterling 12.0766 13.1040 14.6911 14.5820 14.6993 16.0887 14.8965 12.5159
New Taiwan dollar 0.2328 0.2332 0.2401 0.2494 0.2462 0.2447 0.2548 0.2418
Euro 7.5984 9.0696 9.9645 9.9721 10.0272 11.0049 11.8092 11.1309
Australian dollar 4.3703 5.2271 5.9021 6.1064 6.0169 6.7351 6.8552 6.3269
South Korean won 0.0065 0.0067 0.0070 0.0078 0.0084 0.0087 0.0074 0.0063
Japanese yen 0.0643 0.0692 0.0742 0.0729 0.0689 0.0683 0.0776 0.0854
Malaysian ringgit 2.1141 2.1109 2.1112 2.1155 2.1797 2.3374 2.4124 2.2669
New Zealand dollar 3.7306 4.6671 5.3214 5.6436 5.1889 5.9128 5.7341 5.0721
Singapore dollar 4.4893 4.6034 4.7452 4.8137 5.0294 5.3325 5.6788 5.4955
Swiss franc 5.1812 5.9632 6.4572 6.4424 6.3801 6.6998 7.4326 7.3721
MOP annual average middle exchange rate for major foreign currencies, 1990–2002
(1 foreign currency unit to MOP)
Year 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Hong Kong dollar 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03
Portuguese escudo 0.0564 0.0555 0.0593 0.0497 0.0481 0.0532 0.0517 0.0456 0.0443 0.0425 0.0370 0.0359
Deutsche Mark 4.9750 4.8362 5.1221 4.8199 4.9225 5.5677 5.2977 4.6049 4.5381 4.3601 3.7929 3.6794
French franc 1.4767 1.4222 1.5115 1.4076 1.4392 1.5988 1.5583 1.3679 1.3537 1.3000 1.1309 1.0971
United States dollar 8.0230 8.0041 7.9723 7.9679 7.9602 7.9679 7.9664 7.9749 7.9788 7.9918 8.0260 8.0335
Pound sterling 14.3239 14.1421 14.0998 11.9638 12.1982 12.5766 12.4392 13.0709 13.2203 12.9284 12.1663 11.5698
Chinese yuan 0.9620 0.9637 0.9654 0.9695 0.9706
New Taiwan dollar 0.2788 0.2384 0.2477 0.2574 0.2379
Euro 9.0177 8.9532 8.5277 7.4183 7.1962
Australian dollar 5.9341 5.0203 5.1574 4.6739 4.1598
South Korean won 0.0086 0.0057 0.0067 0.0071 0.0062
Japanese yen 0.0661 0.0611 0.0704 0.0745 0.0662
Malaysian ringgit 2.8954 2.0387 2.1031 2.1121 2.1141
New Zealand dollar 5.2849 4.2816 4.2315 3.6684 3.3813
Singapore dollar 5.3851 4.7720 4.7160 4.6553 4.4867
Swiss franc 5.5020 5.5090 5.3278 4.7590 4.7638

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b DSEC government document
  2. ^ Chan, S. S. (2000). The Macau Economy. Publications Centre, University of Macau. ISBN 99937-26-03-6
  3. ^ "The Basics | Fodor's Travel". Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  4. ^ "World Bank Editorial Style Guide 2020 - page 137" (PDF). openknowledge.worldbank.org. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Macau". CIA World Factbook 1990 - page 187. 1 April 1990. Retrieved 3 September 2022. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  6. ^ "Macau SAR Government pledges for free trade and investment - MSAR Gov…". Government Information Bureau of the MSAR. Macau. 19 March 2001. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  7. ^ "The history of pataca". Monetary Authority of Macao. Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2008.
  8. ^ S. S. Chan (2000). The Macau Economy. Publications Centre, University of Macau. ISBN 99937-26-03-6.
  9. ^ "Issuance of banknotes". Bank of China (Macau). Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  10. ^ "Issuance of Banknotes". Bank of China (Macau). Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  11. ^ "BNU Banknotes Online Exhibition". Banco Nacional Ultramarino S.A. (Macau). Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  12. ^ Dez patacas em moedas subsidiaris de 20 avos de cantão.
  13. ^ Bank of China, Macau Branch Issues New Pataca Notes. amcm.gov.mo
  14. ^ Macau to issue 20-pacata note celebrating Olympics, BanknoteNews.com, Retrieved 2011-09-01.
  15. ^ Year of the Snake note rush starts The Macau Business Daily. January 14, 2013. Retrieved on 2013-01-19.
  16. ^ Macau commemorative notes reported, BanknoteNews.com. Retrieved 2011-09-01.
  17. ^ Macau new 10-pataca Year of Dragon commemorative notes confirmed BanknoteNews.com. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  18. ^ Macau new 100-pataca centennial anniversary commemorative notes confirmed BanknoteNews.com. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
  19. ^ Money Supply and its relevance to Macau Archived 18 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ Currency in Circulation in Macao, Monetary Authority of Macau
  21. ^ Hong Kong Dollar in Macau
  22. ^ Archived copy Archived 28 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine Decreto-Lei n. 16/95/M

Sources

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Macanese pataca.
Preceded by:
Mexican dollar, Chinese dollar
Reason: creation of a local currency
Ratio: at par (with Mexican dollar) 		Currency of Macau
1906 –
Note: the pataca was made the unit of account in 1894 		Succeeded by:
Current
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