Algerian dinar

The dinar (Arabic: دينار, Berber language: Dinar or Menkuc, French Dinar; sign: DA; ISO 4217 code: DZD) is the monetary currency of Algeria and it is subdivided into 100 centimes. Centimes are now obsolete due to their extremely low value.

Algerian dinar
Dinar Adzayri (Berber languages)
Menkuc Adzayri (Berber languages)
Dinar algérien (French)
دينار جزائري  (Arabic)
ISO 4217
CodeDZD
Denominations
Subunit
1100centime; santeem (defunct)
Symbolدج (Arabic) or DA (Latin)
Banknotes
Freq. used200, 500, 1000 dinars
Rarely used100, 2000 dinars
Coins
Freq. used5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 dinars
Rarely used1, 2 dinars
Demographics
User(s) Algeria
Sahrawi Republic
Issuance
Central bankBank of Algeria
Websitewww.bank-of-algeria.dz
Valuation
Inflation4.1%
SourceThe World Factbook, 2009 est.

Etymology

The name "dinar" is ultimately derived from the Roman denarius.[1] The Arabic word santeem comes from the French "centime", since Algeria was under French occupation from 1830 to 1962

History

The dinar was introduced on 1 April 1964, replacing the Algerian new franc at par. By 1980s, French inscriptions saw decline on these banknotes.

Argotic counting system

The masses rarely use the dinar as such, but the franc (officially the centime; one hundredth of a dinar) and the doro (one twentieth of a dinar). In traditional selling places such as the vegetable market or in the case of street vendors, prices are displayed in francs, in more modern shops the prices are displayed in dinars but the franc is used in speech.

Coins

In 1964, coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 centimes, and 1 dinar were introduced, with the 1, 2 and 5 centimes struck in aluminium, the 10, 20 and 50 centimes in aluminium bronze and the 1 dinar in cupro-nickel. The obverses showed the emblem of Algeria, while the reverses carried the values in Eastern Arabic numerals. In later decades, coins were issued sporadically with various commemorative subjects. However, the 1 and 2 centimes were not struck again, whilst the 5, 10 and 20 centimes were last struck in the 1980s.

In 1992, a new series of coins was introduced consisting of 14, 12, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dinars. A 200 dinar bi-metallic coin was issued in 2012 to commemorate Algeria's 50th anniversary of independence.[2] The 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 dinar coins are bimetallic.

Coins in general circulation are 5 dinars and higher. Following the massive inflation which accompanied the slow transition to a more capitalist economy during the late 1990s, the centime and fractional dinar coins have dropped out of general circulation, whilst the 1 and 2 dinar coins are rarely used, as prices are rounded to the nearest 5 dinars. Nonetheless, prices are typically quoted in centimes in everyday speech; thus a price of 100 dinars is read as عشر الاف ("ten thousand").

Banknotes

The first series of dinar banknotes issued in 1964 consisted of banknotes in denominations of 5-, 10-, 50- and 100 dinars. In 1970, 500 dinar banknotes were added, followed by 1000 dinars in 1992.

Third series
ImageValueMain ColourDescriptionDate of
ObverseReverseObverseReverseprintingissue
10 DA Green Diesel passenger train Mountain village 2 December 1983
20 DA Red Amphora and Arch Handcrafts and tower 2 January 1983
50 DA Green Shepherd with flock Farmers on a tractor 1 November 1977
100 DA Blue Village with minarets Man working with plants 1 November 1981

8 June 1982

200 DA Brown Place of the Martyrs, Algiers One of the various bridges of Constantine 23 March 1983
Fourth series
100 DA Blue Charging Arab horse riders with sabres in a seal, and Algerian navy in a battle Pre-colonial invasion: Battle of El Harrach (1775) victory of the Algerian horseriders over the invading Spanish. 21 May 1992 1996
200 DA Reddish Brown Decorative Koranic motifs and symbols, mosque, olive and fig branches Period Islam Introduced: Traditional Koranic school and Kalam
500 DA Violet and pink Numidian Period: Battle on elephants between Numidians and invading Romans Romans fighting, a gasing in Tipaza, a hot waterfall in Hammam Debagh, Guelma Province (?) 21 May 1992

10 June 1998

1996

2000

500 DA Violet and pink Globe, Alcomsat-1 (Algeria's first communication's satellite) Satellite dishes, outline of Algeria, bridge 1 November 2018

2018

2018

2018

1000 DA Red and brown Prehistory of Algeria: A buffalo, paintings at Tassili n'Ajjer More paintings from the Tassili, and the Hoggar (?) 21 May 1992

10 June 1998

1995

2000

1000 DA Blue and Red Grand mosque of Algiers Loom, teapot 1 December 2018

2018

2018

2018

2000 DA Purple and green University professor lecturing students in amphitheatre, satellite, double-helix DNA strand, three researchers in scientific laboratory with microscope and beakers Wheat, palm tree, body of water, urban high-rise buildings, olive tree 24 January 2011

2011

2011

2011

For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

The 100 dinar note is being replaced by coins. 200, 500, and 1000 dinar notes are in circulation. The 1998 dated 500 and 1000 dinar notes have an additional vertical holographic strip on obverse.

Current DZD exchange rates
From Google Finance: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD TRY INR CNY
From Yahoo! Finance: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD TRY INR CNY
From XE.com: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD TRY INR CNY
From OANDA: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD TRY INR CNY
From fxtop.com: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD TRY INR CNY

See also

  • Economy of Algeria

References

  • Krause, Chester L.; Clifford Mishler (2003). 2004 Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1901–Present. Colin R. Bruce II (senior editor) (31st ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0873495934.
  • Cuhaj, George S. (editor) (2006). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: Modern Issues 1961-Present (12th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0-89689-356-1.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  • Algerian Bank Regulations of 1996, for specifications of fourth series currency (French).
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