Currencies/Andorran onza

Introduction

The Andorran onza (Catalan: unça) is a bullion denomination issued within the Andorran diner commemorative currency system. The term onza refers to the troy ounce (≈ 31.103 g), used internationally as a bullion weight standard. Onza coins were struck mainly in silver and gold, carrying nominal diner values but functioning purely as commemorative bullion issues.

History

Andorra began issuing diner coins in 1977 for commemorative purposes. Among them, the onza series was introduced to align with global bullion coinage practices. These issues were released in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, often as part of thematic series such as the Andorra Eagle. The name “onza” followed the long Iberian tradition where onza or onça denoted large gold coins or ounce-weight pieces. In Andorra’s case, the denomination underscored both its numismatic program and its participation in the wider bullion market, even though the coins never circulated in daily use.

Coinage

Onza coins were minted primarily in .999 silver and occasionally in gold, each weighing one troy ounce (31.103 g). Designs included national emblems such as the coat of arms of Andorra, depictions of the Andorra Eagle, and cultural or religious motifs.

While given nominal face values in diners, the bullion worth of these coins was tied to the precious metal content rather than the stated denomination.

Currency

The Andorran diner system can be expressed as

1 onza (≈ 31.103 g) = 1 diner (nominal)

This relationship was symbolic, as the diner itself was never a circulating currency.

Legal status

Like the diner and cèntim, the onza was not legal tender in Andorra. The issues were created strictly as commemorative bullion coins for numismatic release.

Replacement

After Andorra adopted the euro in 2015, the diner and its bullion issues, including the onza, lost any official role. Today, onza coins survive as part of Andorra’s numismatic history and are collected for their bullion content and thematic designs.