Mexico's Blue 20-Peso Bill Is Disappearing: What You Need to Know

If you've been living in Puerto Morelos for a while, you're probably used to seeing the blue 20-peso bill.

 

It's been a common sight in our wallets and cash registers for years. But get ready, because this familiar banknote is now on its way out.

 

The Blue 20-Peso Bill Says Goodbye

 

The Bank of Mexico, known as Banxico, has officially begun pulling the blue 20-peso banknote from circulation.

 

All banks in Mexico must now stop recirculating these bills and send them back to the central bank.

 

This blue bill, with President Benito Juárez on the front, has been around for nearly 20 years.

 

It was easy to spot with its bright color and small size. The back of the bill showed Monte Albán, an ancient Zapotec site in Oaxaca.

 

What This Means For You

 

Don't worry if you still have some of these blue 20-peso bills in your pocket here in Puerto Morelos. They are still legal tender.

 

You can continue to use them to pay for your groceries, a taxi ride, or a meal at your favorite local restaurant.

 

You can also deposit them into your bank account. The banks will accept them and then forward them to Banxico for destruction. So, there's no rush to spend them all at once.

 

Meet the New Money

 

Banxico has already introduced new money to replace the old 20-peso bill.

 

You might start seeing a green and reddish 20-peso bill from the "G family." This newer bill came out in 2021 and celebrates Mexico's independence.

 

It shows the rebel army entering Mexico City on one side. The other side features the Sian Ka'an Biosphere in Quintana Roo, a beautiful UNESCO site not far from us.

 

There's also a special 12-sided 20-peso coin that was introduced in 2021. Note that these can easily be mistaken for the 10-peso coin as they are about the same size and weight.

 

Why the Change?

 

This change is part of Banxico's plan to modernize the currency.

 

The main reason is to replace lower-value paper bills with coins. Coins last much longer and cost less to produce than paper or polymer bills.

 

Mexico has also been updating other banknotes.

 

The 50-peso bill, introduced in 2021, features the Aztec capital and an axolotl, a unique salamander.

 

The 100-peso bill, from 2020, shows Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz and the monarch butterfly biosphere.

 

So, while we say goodbye to a familiar piece of our daily lives, new and more durable money is taking its place. Keep an eye out for these new designs as you go about your day in Puerto Morelos.