Cambodian riel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| ISO 4217 Code | KHR |
| User(s) | Cambodia |
| Inflation | 5.8% |
| Source | The World Factbook, 2005 est. |
| Subunit | |
| 1/10 | kak |
| 1/100 | sen |
| Symbol | ៛ |
| Coins | 50, 100, 200, 500 riels |
| Banknotes | |
| Freq. used | 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000 riels |
| Rarely used | 50,000, 100,000 riels |
| Central bank | National Bank of Cambodia |
| Website | nbc.org.kh |
The riel (Khmer: រៀល, Symbol ៛) is the currency of Cambodia. There have been two distinct riels, the first issued between 1952 and 1975, and the second since 1980.
Between 1975 and 1980, the country had no monetary system. See History of Cambodia.
For earlier Cambodian currencies, see Cambodian tical and Cambodian franc.
Contents |
[edit] First Riel, 1952-1975
The riel was introduced to replace the French Indochinese piastre in Cambodia at the same time as the Lao kip and the South Vietnamese đồng. The riel was at first subdivided into 100 centimes (abbreviated to cent. on the coins) but this changed in 1959 to 100 sen. For the first few years, the riel and piastre circulated alongside each other. Indeed, the first riel banknotes were also denominated in piastres. Not until 1955 were notes issued denominated solely in riel.
[edit] Coins
The 10, 20 and 50 centime and sen coins were minted in aluminium and were the same size as the corresponding att and xu (su) coins of Laos and South Vietnam (though without the holes in the Lao coins). A 1 riel coin about the size of a US nickel was to be issued in 1970 but was not released, perhaps due to the overthrowing of the government of Norodom Sihanouk by Lon Nol.
[edit] Banknotes
Following the first issue of banknotes denominated in both riels and piastres (which closely matched those of Laos and South Vietnam), Cambodia issued several series of notes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 riels. Banknotes of 1000 and 5000 riels were printed but not issued for circulation. (The 5000 riels note has only recently come to light. [1]) The designs included many themes of Cambodian life, history and mythology.
[edit] The Khmer Rouge, 1975-1980
Although the Khmer Rouge printed banknotes (denominations of 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 riels, dated 1975) these notes were not issued as money was abolished after the Khmer Rouge took control of the country.
[edit] Second Riel, 1980-
After the Vietmanese invasion in 1978, the riel was re-established as the Cambodian currency in 1980, initially at a value of 4 riels = 1 US dollar. It is subdivided into 10 kak or 100 sen. Because there was no money for it to replace and a severely disrupted economy, the central government gave away the new money to the populace in order to encourage its use.
The riel is today used mainly for buying local produce and other merchandise. The US dollar, particularly the one-dollar bill, is widely used throughout Cambodia for virtually all purposes and is often preferred to the riel, earning it a reputation as the country's "unofficial second currency".
[edit] Coins
The first coins were 5 sen pieces, minted in 1979 and made of aluminium. No more coins were minted until 1994, when denominations of 50, 100, 200, and 500 riels were introduced. However, these are no longer commonly found in circulation.
[edit] Banknotes
Banknotes were issued in 1980 in denominations of 1, 2 and 5 kak, 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 riels. Later issues of banknotes went up to 100,000 riels. However, due to low prices in Cambodia, notes above 20,000 riels are uncommon. The most recent issue of banknotes, introduced in 2001, consists of 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10,000 and 50,000 riels.
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[edit] External links
- Cambodian commercial banks showing legal tender banknotes
- Nearly complete banknote collection from Ronald Wise
- Coins from all periods
- More coins with 1 real 1970
