20 Honduran Lempira Banknote (Dionisio De Herrera)

20 Lempiras Lempira (Issued 2001)

Dionisio de Herrera, the first Head of State of Honduras, stands as one of the founding architects of Central American independence, a figure whose legacy of statesmanship and civic leadership made him a natural choice for the nation’s currency. His portrait on the 20 Lempiras note connects everyday commerce to the broader narrative of Honduran nationhood, reminding citizens of the republic’s hard-won sovereignty. Issued by the Banco Central de Honduras, this 2001-dated note forms part of a series that has served as a cornerstone of the Honduran monetary system through a period of significant economic development. The denomination takes its name from the great Lenca chieftain Lempira, whose resistance against Spanish conquest remains a defining symbol of indigenous courage in Honduras.

On the front, the dominant feature is the finely engraved portrait of Dionisio de Herrera positioned to the right of centre, rendered with considerable intaglio detail showing his formal attire and composed expression. To the right of the portrait, small Spanish text identifies him as “Dionisio de Herrera, Primer Jefe de Estado de Honduras.” The background of the note is composed in soft pastel tones of pale green and lilac, overlaid with intricate guilloché patterning that fills the central field. A large underprint numeral “20” appears prominently in the centre-left area in deep olive green, with the text “VEINTE LEMPIRAS” — meaning Twenty Lempiras — printed boldly across it in a darker green serif typeface. At the upper portion of the note, “REPÚBLICA DE HONDURAS C.A.” is inscribed in a smaller typeface, with “BANCO CENTRAL DE HONDURAS” displayed beneath it in a larger, more authoritative font. The issue date “22 DE ENERO DE 2003” is printed in small text beneath the bank name, and the serial number “AV1750358” appears twice — once in the upper left and once in the lower right — printed in dark ink. Three signature lines are visible across the lower centre of the note, labelled “PRESIDENTA,” “GERENTE,” and “SECRETARIO DE FINANZAS,” each accompanied by a cursive signature. The numeral “20” also appears in the upper left corner within a contrasting panel, and a repeated “20” sits in the lower right corner. A security thread is embedded vertically within the paper, visible as a dark line running through the note. The overall colour palette of the front transitions between pale green, soft violet, and warm cream tones, with the guilloché elements providing a layered depth to the background.

The reverse of the note is dominated by a detailed engraved depiction of the Casa Presidencial — the Presidential Palace of Honduras — rendered in olive green and dark teal tones. The building is shown in a three-quarter perspective, presenting its modernist architectural form with a tall central tower and lower flanking wings, set against an open sky. The caption “CASA PRESIDENCIAL” is printed in small text beneath the image. Above the central vignette, the text “VEINTE LEMPIRAS” is printed in bold dark lettering against a lighter guilloché background. The denomination numeral “20” appears in the upper left and upper right corners of the reverse, with the upper right panel featuring a decorative design element in dark green. In the lower section of the note, “BANCO CENTRAL DE HONDURAS” is printed in bold text accompanied by a series number, and the numeral “20” is displayed again prominently in the lower left. The border areas feature repeated geometric and guilloché patterns in greens and teal, providing both decorative framing and an anti-counterfeiting function. The overall colour scheme of the reverse is a harmonious range of olive, sage green, and dark teal, consistent with the security printing standards of the period.

Got a 20 Lempiras banknote sitting unused? Webuyallcurrency.com will exchange it for cash alongside your other Honduran Lempira banknotes and any leftover foreign currency, in one convenient online step.

• Indicate the quantity of 20 Lempiras Lempira banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Webuyallcurrency.com makes it easy to sell foreign coins and banknotes for cash, taking Honduran Lempira banknotes along with modern and withdrawn currency so everything is converted in one step.

Other Honduran Lempira you can exchange: 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500.