Macau Patacas is the currency of Macau. Currency code (MOP). The pataca was introduced in Portuguese Macau and Portuguese Timor in 1894, replacing the real at a rate of 1 pataca = 5 taels. The name "pataca" derives from the Jyutping pronunciation of 八達 (baat3 daat6), meaning "eight strings", referring to Chinese paper money in general.The pataca is subdivided into 100 avos, with 10 avos called ho in Cantonese. There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 avos and banknotes of 50avos , MOP$1 , MOP$2 , MOP$5 , MOP $10.