Country ISO code: MO

Official language: Chinese (primarily Cantonese)

Language ISO code: zh

Current official currency: Macanese Pataca

Current currency ISO code: MOP

Complete Financial History of Macau (澳門特別行政區)

Current official currency: Macanese Pataca (澳門元)

• ISO code: MOP

• Symbols: MOP$, 澳門元

• Singular name: Pataca

• Plural name: Patacas

• Monetary subdivision: 1 Pataca = 100 avos (仙)

• Fraction singular name: Avo (仙)

• Fraction plural name: Avos (仙)

• Initial production date: 1894

• Final production date: Still in production

• Initial circulation date: 1894

• Final circulation date: Still in circulation

• Mint: Produced by international mints such as the Royal Canadian Mint

• Issuing bank: Macau Monetary Authority (AMCM)

Coin denominations

• 10 avos (仙)

• 20 avos (仙)

• 50 avos (仙)

• 1 pataca

• 2 patacas

• 5 patacas

• 10 patacas

Banknote denominations

• 10 patacas

• 20 patacas

• 50 patacas

• 100 patacas

• 500 patacas

• 1,000 patacas

Economic and historical context

• Prior to the Pataca, traditional Chinese coins and Portuguese currency circulated in Macau.

• The Pataca was introduced in 1894 to unify the local monetary system, initially pegged to the Spanish dollar and later to the Hong Kong dollar.

• After the 1999 sovereignty transfer to China, Macau retained the Pataca as its official currency under the “one country, two systems” principle, ensuring monetary autonomy.

• Macau’s economy, heavily reliant on tourism and gaming, influences currency demand.

• The Macau Monetary Authority regulates issuance and circulation to maintain financial stability.

Minting and production locations

• Coins are produced by international mints, including the Royal Canadian Mint, depending on series and period.

Designs and symbols on coins and banknotes

• Coins feature Macau’s coat of arms, the lotus flower (official symbol), and denominations in Chinese and Portuguese.

• Banknotes depict Macau’s cultural, architectural, and natural heritage with texts in Chinese and Portuguese.

Production volumes, honorees, and seals

• Specific production volumes are not widely published.

• Commemorative coins have been issued for cultural and historic events.

Commemorative coins and curiosities

• Macau issues commemorative coins for special occasions such as sovereignty anniversaries and cultural events.

Current circulation status

• The Macanese Pataca is actively circulating and is the sole legal tender in the region.

• The Hong Kong dollar is widely accepted but has no official legal tender status.

Issuing authority

• Macau Monetary Authority (AMCM), a government agency of the Macau Special Administrative Region.

Relevant monetary legislation

• Regulated by Macau SAR legislation, ensuring monetary autonomy under the “one country, two systems” framework.

Names and titles of banknote signatories

• Banknotes bear signatures of the Governor of the Macau Monetary Authority and the Chief Executive of Macau.

List of persons honored on coins and banknotes

• Images honor Macau’s cultural, architectural, and natural symbols rather than specific individuals.

Official language recognized by the state for administrative, legislative, judicial, monetary, and educational use:
Chinese, primarily spoken Cantonese and traditional written Chinese, is the most widely used and officially recognized language for these functions in Macau. Although Portuguese is also an official language with equal status, its daily and administrative use is limited, mainly confined to legal documents and specific government sectors. Therefore, Chinese is the principal official language for administrative, legislative, judicial, monetary, and educational purposes in the Macau Special Administrative Region.