Ecuadorian centavo coins were introduced in 2000 when Ecuador converted its currency from the sucre to the U.S.

They circulate within Ecuador alongside coins and banknotes from the United States.

Ecuadorian centavos bear the numeric value along with the value spelled out in Spanish, and the legend of the Banco Central del Ecuador; the reverse is printed with the portrait and name of a notable Ecuadorian, the legend "República del Ecuador" and the country's coat of arms.

The exception is the one-cent coin, which rather than bearing a portrait, is printed with a map of the Americas and bears the legend "Luz de América" ("Light of the Americas").

[4] The Central Bank of Ecuador also produced a commemorative $1 (un sucre) coin for official 2000 mint sets.