Many ask on the Tripadvisor Macau forum if they should exchange for Macanese Patacas (MOP) of just use Hong Kong Dollars (HKD) when making their trip to Macau. This article seeks to provide insight into this question. Generally speaking, it is not critical, in most cases, to acquire MOP for a trip to Macau as HKD is widely accepted by pretty much all businesses here. However, there are still a few helpful tips and other things to be aware of. A.) What is the usual exchange rate between HKD and MOP? The exchange rate between the two currencies is more or less fixed at MOP 1.03 to HKD 1.00. This means that HKD 1 is more valuable than MOP 1 by approximately 3%. B.) What exchange rates are used when making purchases in HKD? If purchases are priced in MOP and you choose to pay with HKD, it is important to note that you will be charged a 1:1 rate, meaning you will pay that extra 3% more by using HKD. See the following example if this is confusing. If you want to buy a local souvenir priced at MOP 100, you can pay MOP 100 or HKD 100 (1:1 exchange rate). If you pay HKD100, don't expect any form of change, even if the currency is slightly more valuable. C.) When can you use HKD? Ferries, Casino operators and many (if not most) accommodations are priced in HKD to start with. Restaurants, most forms of entertainment and other general expenses are usually priced in MOP. However, HKD is widely accepted in Macau with the following exceptions HKD 10 coin HKD 1000 note in most of the small and local merchants or restaurants (espeacailly those printed in 2003) HKD 500 note in certain shops and restaurants Coin with Queen Elizibeth II Portrait D.) When can you not use HKD? In the past, government services like the Post Office and museums would only accept MOP but those days seem to be over now. Over the past couple of years, the Post Office has been known to accept HKD and the local museums have been openly accepting HKD for the past three years. Further, taxi drivers have been widely accepting HKD for the many years. Keeping in mind that HKD is slightly more valuable than MOP due to the difference in exchange rate, the local taxi-drivers, like everyone else, are happy to take your HKD at the specified 1:1 payment rate. E.) What change will be given if a larger HKD note is used to make purchases? This is a good question and the answer can vary, depending on what type of change the vendor, shopkeeper or service provider has at the time. Everyone excepts HKD but not everyone will have adequate HKD change on them if you decide to use a large HKD note to make a purchase of something priced in MOP. This means you might receive HKD in change, you might receive MOP only or you might even receive a combination of both. If this is confusion, lets look at that previous example one more time. If you want to buy a local souvenir priced at MOP 75 and you pay HKD 100 (1:1 exchange rate), then you might receive HKD 25 in change. You might also receive MOP 25 or you might receive a combination of HKD and MOP totaling up to a sum of 25. Side Note: In the not to distant past it was expected to receive your change in MOP. However, these days it is just as likely that you will be given HKD in change when making purchases. Just be prepared to receive some or all MOP in change if they don’t have adequate HKD on hand. Side Note: If you use larger HKD notes to make low priced MOP purchases (ie. using HKD 500 to pay for a MOP 10 bottle of water) you are much more likely to be given MOP in change. F.) What to do with leftover MOP before returning to Hong Kong? In short, it is probably best to spend whatever MOP you have before returning to Hong Kong! While HKD is widely accepted in Macau, the same isn’t true when it comes to the MOP in Hong Kong. It is not accepted anywhere. As such, if you end up with some MOP, perhaps some change from a purchase made during your daytrip to Macau then try to spend it before returning to HK or back to your home country. Side Note: for those traveling back to your home country and is already at the airport be sure to convert your money back to your countrys currency or at least HKD. Money Exchangers wont accept MOP, learned it the hard way.

Macau Pataca is the monetary unit of Macau (currency code MOP). Monetary policy is managed by the Monetary Authority of Macau. The abbreviation MOP$ is commonly used. 1 Pataca are divided into 100 Avo. The name "pataca" was derived from the then popular silver coin in Asia, the Mexican eight Reales, known in Portuguese as the Pataca Mexicana. THE HISTORY OF ISSUING MACAU PATACA The bank notes and coins are in the following denominations: * Bank notes: 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 Patacas * Coins: 1, 2, 5 and 10 Patacas; 10, 20 and 50 avos At the time of the first issuance, the denomination only came with 1 Pataca, 5 Patacas, 10 Patacas, 25 Patacas, 50 Patacas, and 100 Patacas, with the 20 Cents coin from Canton Province. Later, Macau began issuing 5 Avos, 10 Avos, and 50 Avos in February 1920. Not until 1942, Macau issued smaller denomination like 1 Avo, 5 Avos, and 20 Avos. The new note comes with yellow color in underprint, a traditional Chinese dragon on obverse, Macau city view on reverse, and Chinese junk watermark. The date printed was August 8, 1988. Because 8 in Chinese (Ba) is similar to "wealth" (Fa), this unique date which occurs only once per century carries a special meaning to the note. Another feature is the replacement of Portuguese Coat of Arm with BNU's logo, symbolizing the fact that Mauca is part of the People's Republic of China. Macau Pataca has been the legal tender of Macau for nearly a century. The Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU) was the banknote issuing authority in 1905. The pataca banknotes were circulated in Macau on January 27, 1906. The Macau Pataca coins were first issued in 1952. However, due to the small market demand in Macau, the second issue had postponed to 1967. The coins were bronze 5 and 10 avos, cupro-nickel 50 avos and silver 1 and 5 patacas. In 1980, the IEM has the exclusive right to issue patacas, transferred by the Macau Government. The BNU became the agent bank of the IEM and continued to issue banknotes. On the agreement with BNU on October 16, 1995, the Bank of China (Macau Branch) became the second note-issuing bank. The authority to issue patacas was transferred to the Portuguese-administered Government with the establishment of the Monetary Authority of Macau. After December 20, 1999. The AMCM vested with the Government of Macau Special Administrative Region for patacas issuing. On the obverse of this coin are two Chinese characters in Li Shu [in scribe style and means 5 cent] in the centre, above and below two rosettes within a linear circle. There are Portuguese characters REPUBLICA PORTUGUESA in upper outer circle, and 5 AVOS in lower outer circle. On the reverse of this coin, an armorial bearings of Macau in centre, above Portuguese (MACAU). below 1952, right and left two Chinese characters (means macao) and two small stars above and below. The inscriptions bearing on the both side of this coin are the same as the 5 Avos coin, except the denomination is 10 Avos in Portuguese and 10 cent in Chinese. This coin as other earlier Macao coins was minted by Casa da Moeda of Lisbon. This coin was made with copper-nickel, though it looks like silver. On the obverse side of this coin is a coat of arms of Portugal overlaying a cross, Portuguese characters REPUBLICA PORTUGUESA in upper and 1952 in lower of the cross. On the reverse of this coin, an armorial bearings of Macau in centre, above Portuguese (MACAU), below 50 AVOS, right and left four Chinese characters (means macao and 50 cent) and two small stars above and below. The obverse and reverse of a 1 Macau Pataca coin issued in 1952.This coin was made with copper-nickel, though it looks like silver. On the obverse side of this coin is a coat of arms of Portugal overlaying a cross, Portuguese characters REPUBLICA PORTUGUESA in upper and 1952 in lower of the cross. On the reverse of this coin, an armorial bearings of Macau in centre, above Portuguese (MACAU), below 50 AVOS, right and left four Chinese characters (means macao and 50 cent) and two small stars above and below. This silver 20 pataca coin was struck by the Macao government to commemorate the opening of the Macao Taipa Bridge in 1974. This is the only 20 pataca silver coin issued for general circulation. On the obverse of this coin is the scene of Macao-Taipa Bridge, and a Chinese junk is just passing through the bridge in the center circle. In upper outer circle characters "REPUBLICA PORTUGUESA" and characters "PONTE MACAU-TAIPA 1974" in lower outer circle. The inscriptions bearing on the reverse of this coin are the same as the 50 Avos coin, except the denomination is 20 Macau Patacas in Portuguese and 20 dollars in Chinese scripts. RARENESS OF PARTICULAR MACAU PATACA COINS The coinage of Macao started late until 1952. The first issued mintage might be too large for the small market demand of Macao. The 2nd issue had postponed until 1967. Her coinage consisted of bronze 5 and 10 avos, cupro-nickel 50 avos and silver 1 and 5 patacas, with a history of only 45 years since 1952. According the information from the Portuguese Government of Macau and the Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU), the Portuguese Government of Macau had issued 1 Macau Pataca coin in 1976. From this, Macau 1976 1 Pataca coin is known to be a rare coin. ANOTHER CURRENCY USED IN MACAU Pataca is circulated in Macau, but Hong Kong dollars (HK$) are also accepted in Macau. The Macau Pataca, with a mere 29.9% share of Macau's money supply at end-1998, could conveniently be replaced by the HKD, which accounted for 52.8%. The exchange rate is loosely pegged and is approximately MOP$103=HK$100 as of February 2004, although the variation is up to 10%. For United States dollars, to which the Hong Kong dollar are in turn loosely tied, the exchange rate is around 8 Macau Patacas to 1 US dollar. TODAY IN MACAU Nowadays, the most significant financial authority in Macau is the Monetary Authority of Macau. It allows Macau citizens to buy foreign currencies with the Macao Pataca directly in banks or money exchange centres. As there is currently no restrictions on the import or export of either local or foreign currency into or from Macau, visitors can change their currency in hotels", banks and authorized exchange dealers located all around the city. There are also 24 hour exchange counters in the Macau International Airport (Taipa Island) and in the Lisboa Hotel (Macau Peninsula) for customers if they want to change their currency to Macau Pataca outside working hours.