The Pataca is the monetary unit of Macau (currency code MOP). Monetary policy is managed by the Monetary Authority of Macau. The abbreviation MOP$ is commonly used. 1 Pataca is divided into 100 "Avo". The name "pataca" was derived from the then popular silver coin in Asia, the Mexican 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. For exchange rates, see here. ... The Monetary Authority of Macau (澳門金融管理局; AMCM as the abbreviation retained from the past; Autoridade Monetaria de Macau, in Portuguese) is a regulatory institution established on December 20, 1999, upon the return of the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) to the Peoples Republic of China. ... World map showing location of Asia A satellite composite image of Asia Asia is the central and eastern part of the continent of Eurasia, defined by subtracting the European peninsula from Eurasia. ... Portuguese Timor is the former name (1596 - 1975) of East Timor when it was under Portuguese control. ... 1957 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The escudo was the official currency of Portugal prior to the introduction of the euro in January 1, 1999 (euro coins and notes were not introduced until 2002). ...

The obverse and reverse of a 1 Pataca coin issued in 1952

The drawing of 1 pataca Hand-drawn and then edited with Adobe Photoshop in 1st March, 2004 by myself. ...

The History of Pataca Issues

The bank notes and coins are in the following denominations: A £20 Ulster Bank banknote. ... 1¢ euro coin A coin is generally a piece of hard material, generally metal and usually in the shape of a disc, which is used as a form of money. ...

• Bank notes: 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 Patacas
• Coins: 1, 2, 5 and 10 Patacas; 10, 20 and 50 avos

At the time of the first issuance, the only denominations were 1 Pataca, 5 Patacas, 10 Patacas, 25 Patacas, 50 Patacas, and 100 Patacas, with the 20-Cent coin from Canton Province. Later, Macau began issuing 5 Avos, 10 Avos, and 50 Avos in February 1920. Not until 1942 did Macau issue smaller denominations like 1 Avo, 5 Avos, and 20 Avos. The new note comes with underprint in yellow, a traditional Chinese dragon on the obverse, a view of Macau city on the reverse, and a Chinese junk watermark. The date printed was August 8, 1988. Because 8 in Chinese (Ba) is similar to "getting rich" (Fa), this unique date which occurs only once per century gives the note a special meaning. Another feature is the replacement of the Portuguese Coat of Arms with Banco Nacional Ultramarino's logo, symbolizing the fact that Macau is part of the People's Republic of China. Guangdong (Simplified Chinese: 广东; Traditional Chinese: 廣東; pinyin: Guǎngdōng; Wade-Giles: Kuang-tung; Kwangtung in older transliteration; Cantonese: gwong2 dung1), is a province on the south coast of the Peoples Republic of China. ... 1920 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ... 1942 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Chinese dragons The Chinese dragon (龍; pinyin: long2; Cantonese: loong; Hokkien: leng) is a mythical creature. ... The Junk is a Chinese sailing vessel. ... This Crown & CA (for Crown Agent) watermark was standard for postage stamps of the British colonies from the 1880s to the 1920s. ... August 8 is the 220th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (221st in leap years), with 145 days remaining. ... 1988 is a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... Banco Nacional Ultramarino is a Portuguese bank with operations throughout the world, especially in Portugals former colonies. ...

The Pataca has been the legal tender in Macau for nearly a century. The Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU) has been the banknote-issuing authority since 1905. The pataca banknotes have been circulated in Macau since January 27, 1906. The Pataca coins were first issued in 1952. However, owing to the small market demand in Macau, the second issue was postponed until 1967. The coins were bronze 5 and 10 avos, cupro-nickel 50 avos and silver 1 and 5 patacas. 1905 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... January 27 is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1906 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1952 - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... 1967 was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... Bronze figurine, found at Öland Bronze is the traditional name for a broad range of alloys of copper. ... Cupronickel is an alloy of copper, nickel and stengthening impurities. ... General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series Transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Density, Hardness 10490 kg/m3, 2. ...

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, the Bank of China (Macau Branch) became the second note-issuing bank. The authority to issue patacas was transferred to the Portuguese-administered Government with the establishment of the Monetary Authority of Macau (AMCM). After December 20, 1999. The the Government of Macau Special Administrative Region vested the AMCM with the authority to issue patacas. 1980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... October 16 is the 289th day of the year (290th in Leap years). ... 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Bank of China (中国银行, pinyin: Zhōngguó Yínháng) is one of the big four banks in the Peoples Republic of China. ... The Monetary Authority of Macau (澳門金融管理局; AMCM as the abbreviation retained from the past; Autoridade Monetaria de Macau, in Portuguese) is a regulatory institution established on December 20, 1999, upon the return of the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) to the Peoples Republic of China. ... December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1999 is a common year starting on Friday of the Common Era, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... A Special Administrative Region (SAR) (Simplified Chinese: 特别行政区; Traditional Chinese: 特別行政區; pinyin: tèbié xíngzhèngqū; Cantonese IPA: /tɐk6piːt6 hɐŋ4tsɪŋ3kʰɵy1/; Jyutping: dak6bit6 hang4zing3keoi1; Yale: dahkbiht hàhngjingkeūi) is a political subdivision of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

On the obverse of this coin are two Chinese characters writting in Li Shu [a scribe style] meaning 5 cents in the centre, above and below two rosettes within a linear circle. The words REPUBLICA PORTUGUESA appear in the upper outer circle, and 5 AVOS in the lower outer circle. On the reverse of this coin, the armorial bearing of Macau is in the centre, and above is the name MACAU. Below is the yeardate 1952, and on the right and left are two Chinese characters (meaning "Macau") and there are two small stars above and below.

The inscriptions borne on both sides of this coin are the same as on the 5-Avo coin, except the denomination is 10 Avos in Portuguese and 10 cents in Chinese. This coin, like other earlier Macau coins was minted by Casa da Moeda of Lisbon.

This coin was made with copper-nickel, though it looks like silver. On the obverse side of this coin is Portugal's coat of arms overlaying a cross, the words REPUBLICA PORTUGUESA above and 1952 below the cross. On the reverse of this coin are the armorial bearings of Macau in the centre, the name MACAU above, "50 AVOS" below, and to the right and left, four Chinese characters meaning "Macau" and "50 cents") with two small stars above and below.

The obverse and reverse of a 1 Pataca coin issued in 1952. This coin was made with copper-nickel, though it looks like silver. On the obverse side of this coin is Portugal's coat of arms overlaying a cross, the words REPUBLICA PORTUGUESA above and 1952 below the cross. On the reverse of this coin are the armorial bearings of Macau in the centre, the name MACAU above, "50 AVOS" below, and to the right and left, four Chinese characters meaning "Macau" and "50 cents") with two small stars above and below.

This is another 5-Pataca coin issued in 1971. The mintage of this coin is small too.

This silver 20 pataca coin was struck by the Macau government to commemorate the opening of the Macau-Taipa Bridge in 1974. This is the only 20-pataca silver coin issued for general circulation. On the obverse of this coin is a scene showing the Macau-Taipa Bridge, and a Chinese junk is just passing under the bridge in the centre circle. In the upper outer circle are the words "REPUBLICA PORTUGUESA", and in lower outer circle "PONTE MACAU-TAIPA 1974". The inscriptions on the reverse of this coin are the same as on the 50-Avo coin, except that the denomination is 20 Patacas in Portuguese and 20 dollars in Chinese.

5 avos back edited by photoshop on 3 March 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 5 avos front edited by photoshop on 3 March 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 1 avos front edited by photoshop on 3 March 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 1 avos back edited by photoshop on 3 March 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A mint is a facility which manufactures coins for currency. ... Lisbon (in Portuguese, Lisboa) is the capital and largest city of Portugal. ... 50 avos front edited by photoshop on 3 March 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 50 avos back edited by photoshop on 3 March 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 1 pataca front File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 1 pataca back File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 5 pataca front File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 5 pataca back File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 1971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... 20 pataca front File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 20 pataca back File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ...

Rareness of particular Pataca coins

The coinage of Macau started late in 1952. The first issued mintage was probably too large for the small market demand of Macau. The second issue was postponed until 1967. Macau's coinage consisted of bronze 5 and 10 avos, cupro-nickel 50 avos and silver 1 and 5 patacas.

According the information from the Portuguese Government of Macau and the Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU), the Portuguese Government of Macau issued 1 Pataca coins in 1976. From this, it is known that Macau 1976 1-Pataca coins are rare. 1976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Exchange rate indicators

The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Pataca against Sterling and the US Dollar: The pound sterling, which strictly speaking refers to basic currency unit of sterling, now the pound, can generally refer to the currency of the United Kingdom (UK). ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ...

Other currency used in Macau

The Pataca is circulated in Macau, but Hong Kong dollars (HK$) are also accepted. The Pataca, with a mere 29.9% share of Macau's money supply at the end of 1998, could conveniently be replaced by the Hong Kong dollar, which accounted for 52.8%. The exchange rate is loosely pegged and is approximately MOP$103=HK$100 as of February 2004, although the variation is up to 10%. For United States dollars, to which the Hong Kong dollar is in turn pegged, the exchange rate is around 8 Patacas to 1 US dollar. The Hong Kong Dollar (ISO 4217: HKD) is the official currency of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) within the Peoples Republic of China. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A fixed currency, sometimes (less commonly) called a pegged currency, is a currency that uses a fixed exchange rate as its exchange rate regime. ...

Now in Macau

Nowadays, the most significant financial authority in Macau is the Monetary Authority of Macau. It allows Macau citizens to buy foreign currencies with the Macau Pataca directly in banks or money exchange centres. 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. The Monetary Authority of Macau (澳門金融管理局; AMCM as the abbreviation retained from the past; Autoridade Monetaria de Macau, in Portuguese) is a regulatory institution established on December 20, 1999, upon the return of the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) to the Peoples Republic of China. ... A hotel is an establishment that provides lodging, usually on a short-term basis. ... The essential function of a bank is to provide services related to the storing of value and the extending of credit. ... The Currency Market or Foreign Exchange Market is the market where one currency is traded for another. ... Macau International Airport (澳門國際機場) is the only airport in the Macau Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Taipa (氹仔島) is an island of Macau in the Peoples Republic of China. ... Macau Peninsula (澳門半島 Pinyin: Aomen Bandao; Portuguese: Península de Macau) is the oldest and most populous part of Macau in the Peoples Republic of China. ...

External links

• Main Currencies List worldwide (in Chinese) (http://www.cp-edu.com/TW/CIKU/free_html/fl_sjzyhbjb.asp)
• Summary of the Pataca (http://www.amcm.gov.mo/history/pataca_info.htm)