A vendor holds "chacho" currency at the Exchange Service Center to convert them to Argentine pesos in La Rioja, Argentina, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. La Rioja province is printing this new emergency tender to pay state workers and spur the economy after the government slashed federal budgets to provinces. (AP Photo/Natalia Diaz)
People buy groceries at a supermarket that accepts "chachos" currency in La Rioja, Argentina, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. In response to slashed federal budgets to provinces, La Rioja is printing a new emergency tender called "chachos" to pay state workers and spur the economy. (AP Photo/Natalia Diaz)
A sign reads in Spanish, "We take chachos" at a butcher shop in La Rioja, Argentina, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. In response to slashed federal budgets to provinces, La Rioja is printing a new emergency tender called "chachos" to pay state workers and spur the economy. (AP Photo/Natalia Diaz)
A state worker is paid with "chacho" currency in La Rioja, Argentina, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. In response to slashed federal budgets to provinces, La Rioja is printing a new emergency tender called "chachos" to pay state workers and spur the economy. (AP Photo/Natalia Diaz)
A monument to strongman Ángel Vicente “Chacho” Peñaloza, famed for defending La Rioja and other provinces in a historic 19th-century battle against national authorities, is silhouetted in La Rioja, Argentina, at dawn Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. In response to slashed federal budgets to provinces, La Rioja is printing a new emergency tender called "chachos" to pay state workers and spur the economy. (AP Photo/Natalia Diaz)
State workers head to work in La Rioja, Argentina, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. In response to slashed federal budgets to provinces, La Rioja is printing a new emergency tender called "chachos" to pay state workers and spur the economy. (AP Photo/Natalia Diaz)
People pay their electricity bills at the electricity distribution company, using "chacho" currency in La Rioja, Argentina, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. In response to slashed federal budgets to provinces, La Rioja is printing a new emergency tender called "chachos" to pay state workers and spur the economy. (AP Photo/Natalia Diaz)
A butcher looks at fresh meat that arrived to sell at the shop where they accept "chacho" currency as payment in La Rioja, Argentina, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. In response to slashed federal budgets to provinces, La Rioja is printing a new emergency tender called "chachos" to pay state workers and spur the economy. (AP Photo/Natalia Diaz)
A butcher works at his stall that accepts "chacos" as payment in La Rioja, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. In response to slashed federal budgets to provinces, La Rioja is printing a new emergency tender called "chachos" to pay state workers and spur the economy. (AP Photo/Natalia Diaz)
Workers wait for their paychecks in "chacos" currency outside the Polideportivo Carlos Saúl Memem in La Rioja, Argentina, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. In response to slashed federal budgets to provinces, La Rioja is printing a new emergency tender called "chachos" to pay state workers and spur the economy. (AP Photo/Natalia Diaz)
A poster critical of Argentine President Javier Milei as a cat covers hangs along a sidewalk in La Rioja, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. It asks the question in Spanish: "Would you cut your arm with the chainsaw?" referring to austerity measures. In response to the government slashing federal budget transfers to provinces, La Rioja province is printing a new emergency tender called "chachos" to pay state workers and spur the economy. (AP Photo/Natalia Diaz)
Daniel shows his cash earnings in "chacos" at the end of the day selling eggs at a market in La Rioja, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. In response to slashed federal budgets to provinces, La Rioja is printing a new emergency tender called "chachos" to pay state workers and spur the economy. (AP Photo/Natalia Diaz)