The celebrated former president Benito Juárez dropped off of Mexico’s new 20-peso banknote, which went into circulation on Friday, September 24, 2021.
The Bank of México released the new 20-peso bill to honor the 200th anniversary of the country’s independence, recalling the moment two centuries ago when the rebel army entered Mexico City. On the following day, September 28, 1821, Mexico was declared independent.
The primarily green and red bill depicts a painting which hangs in Chapultepec Castle called “The Solemn and peaceful entry of the Army of the Three Guarantees into Mexico City on September 27 from the memorable year of 1821” by an anonymous artist. It glorifies the moment the army arrived at Mexico City’s central square, led by Agustín de Iturbide. The image displays the flag of the army and the Mexican flag side-by-side, and local people celebrating the military arrival.
The reverse side of the note pays tribute to the country’s natural wealth with an image of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve in Quintana Roo, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. It features a crocodile and a garza chocolatera, a type of crane also known as roseate spoonbill.
Like other members of Mexico’s new family of bank notes, the redesigned 20 Peso bill has greater security, durability and functionality characteristics that make it more difficult to counterfeit and easier for the blind or visually impaired to identify.
Another of the Bank of México’s eye-catching designs was internationally applauded earlier this year: a 100-peso bill depicting the self-educated nun and intellectual Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz was named banknote of the year 2020 by the International Bank Note Society (IBNS).
Sources: Banco de Mexico • El País • Mexico News Daily