Issued by the Banco de la República in 2019, this polymer banknote features on the obverse the portrait of Alfonso López Michelsen, former president of Colombia, along with a depiction of the Sombrero Vueltiao, a symbol of Colombian cultural heritage.
The reverse showcases the Canal del Dique and surrounding landscapes, highlighting the importance of waterways in the country’s history and economy. Printed on polymer for increased durability, it measures 143 × 66 mm and incorporates transparent windows, color-shifting ink, microtext, and tactile features.
Obverse
President Alfonso López Michelsen standing left at center, head at right. Stylized sugar-apple fruit at center, with Zenú earmuff below (perfect match printing). Issuer name on lower left. Face value in numbers and letters on top left, in letters on right edge. Black serial #s, 8 digits with 2 letters prefix on top left and lower right. Five raised lines on lower left and right edges, for visually impaired identification. Two black signatures with titles below on lower left
Script: Latin
Lettering:
20 MIL
PESOS
AC60442861
AÑÓN
Annona Squamosa
ALFONSO LÓPEZ MICHELSEN
PRESIDENTE DE LA REPÚBLICA
DE COLOMBIA (1974-1978)
GERENTE GENERAL
GERENTE EJECUTIVO
BANCO DE LA REPUBLICA
COLOMBIA
VEINTE MIL
PESOS
Translation:
20 thousand Pesos
Sugar-apple (Añón – Annona Squamosa)
Alfonso López Michelsen, president of Colombia (1974-1978)
General Manager, Executive Manager
Republoic Bank, Colombia
Twenty thousand Pesos.
Reverse
Man from Zenú people carrying “fleha” cane (Gynerium sagitatum), watering system channels, traditional “vueltiao” hat. Bank seal on top right, poem fragment on top right. Face value in numbers and letters on top left, in letters on lower right. Windowed security strip, with repeated letters “BRC” inverted, only visible from obverse with backlight illumination. Issuing date and printer name on lower right edge.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
20 MIL
PESOS
“VIENE NACIENDO EN LA CAÑA
LA FIBRA DE MI SOMBRERO
QUE TRENZA ALLÁ EN LA CABAÑA
LA RAZA DE MIS ABUELOS
Y CON LA TIERRA ALCALINA
CON LA PAJA Y CON LA JAGUA
SE VA TIÑENDO LA CAÑA
DE NEGRURA CRISTALINA
TRENZAN LOS DEDOS CON RITMO
UN MANANTIAL DE LUCEROS,
DE INFINITO LOGARITMO
COMO ES INFINITO EL CIELO”
BENJAMÍN PUCHE VILLADIEGO
BANCO DE LA REPÚBLICA
COLOMBIA
OREJERA ZENÚ
SISTEMA HIDRÁULICO
PREHISPÁNICO DE LOS ZENÚES
SOMBRERO VUELTIAO
2 DE AGOSTO DE 2016
IMPRENTA DE BILLETES – BANCO DE LA REPÚBLICA
VEINTE MIL
PESOS
Translation:
20 thousand Pesos
“Is been born in the cane
the fiber of my hat
that is braided there at the cabin
the race of my grandparents
and with the alkaline soil
with the straw and the jagua
the cane is been dyed
of crystalline blackness
braid the fingers with rhythm
a spring of morning stars
of infinite logarithm
as is infinite the sky”
Benjamín Puche Villadiego
Bank of the Republic, Colombia
Zenú earmuff
Pre-Hispanic hydraulic system of Zenú people
“Vueltiao” hat
August 2nd., 2016
Banknote printer – Republic Bank.
Twenty thousand Pesos.
Watermark
Portrait of President Alfonso López Michelsen, electrotype 20
© RuibaiK (CC BY-NC)
Printer
Imprenta de Billetes, Bogotá, Colombia
Features
| Issuer | Colombia |
|---|---|
| Issuing bank | Banco de la Republica de Colombia |
| Ruling authority | Republic (1886-date) |
| Type | Standard circulation banknotes |
| Years | 2015-2022 |
| Value | 20 000 Pesos 20 000 COP = USD 4.97 |
| Currency | Peso decimalized (1847-date) |
| Composition | Paper |
| Size | 142 × 66 mm |
| Shape | Rectangular |
