Colombia’s central bank unveiled five new coins that will begin circulation Wednesday.
The upgraded coins, in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 pesos, all feature pictures of native Colombian animals. The COP1,000 coin, initially expected to be released this coming October, replaces the current bill and will reduce production costs in the long run, according to the Central Bank of Colombia. The coin, the largest of the five, is bimetallic and features the image of a loggerhead sea turtle.
The coins have new security features that will make counterfeiting more difficult. The old currencies will continue to serve as a legal means of payment for the time being.