Argentina is South America’s second largest country. With its political origins in Spanish colonialism, Argentina declared independence in 1816. The first banknotes issued by a governmental body are the 1820 Customs Notes from the Government of the Province of Buenos Aires. Throughout much of the 19th century, a great variety of paper money was produced by banks and provincial governments across the country. The first national notes were issued in 1883. The Argentine economy experienced significant turbulence throughout the 20th century and into the 21st, including periods of severe hyperinflation, currency revaluations and sovereign default. This history of turbulence is reflected in the country’s paper money, offering collectors many areas for interesting study.
