Mexico issued its first polymer note, a 20 Pesos, on 30 September 2002. Details of the note were announced at a pre-issue launch on 8 September 2002 which gave bank tellers, other high volume cash handlers and the public in general some three weeks in which to familiarise themselves with the characteristics of the new note. Its launch coincided with a visit to Mexico of Australia's Treasurer Peter Costello for an APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Conference) Finance Minister's meeting and he was in attendance at the launch which was hosted by Banco de Mexico Governor Guillermo Ortiz Martinez.
This issue was a long time coming as it was about February 2001 when it first became known to the collecting fraternity that Mexico was to embark on the polymer journey.
