Bolivian currency has undergone so many changes, it's hard to know how long the images on this page will be valid. OK, let's not be pessimistic. These bills and coins have been in circulation for nearly 20 years now so maybe they're here to stay.

You can read more about the history and background of Bolivian currency here. Once you've done that you can move on to my pages on the economy in Bolivia, or banking in Bolivia, or Bolivia money exchange.

This page is linked from my Bolivian economy and Bolivian currency pages and will contain only pictures of our money.

Bolivia has bills in denominations of 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10 bolivianos. There are also coins. The coin with the gold center and silver outer rim is worth Bs. 5 and it replaced our 5 boliviano bill (which was blue) years ago. There are also coins worth 1 and 2 bolivianos as well as coins worth 10, 20, and 50 centavos (cents of a boliviano).

Currently (2010) the exchange rate is Bs. 7.07 per dollar (when exchanging dollars for bolivianos) and Bs. 6.97 (when exchanging bolivianos for dollars) so you lose a little value when you buy dollars but you get more if you are selling your dollars. That's because the dollar is a stronger currency so you have to pay more to get it. The boliviano is weaker so you get more for your dollar. Make sense?

Normally the value of Bolivia currency fluctuates up and down daily depending on the value of the dollar. On March 20th 2009 the Bolivian government announced it will no longer adjust the Bolivian boliviano exchange rate against the dollar. It set the conversion rate at a fixed 7.07 bolivianos per dollar. Anyways, this means that at this time Bs. 100 is equivalent to US$ 14.14.

Something else that's new as of 2010: new Bolivian money. The Bolivian government has changed the name of the Republic of Bolivia to "Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia" (Plurinational State of Bolivia) and recent printed new money. You can still use coins and bills that say "República de Bolivia" on them. They'll be phased out gradually as they get old and tattered.