Sudanese pound

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Sudanese pound
جنيه سوداني (Arabic)
ISO 4217 Code SDG
User(s) Flag of Sudan Sudan
Inflation 9%
Source The World Factbook, 2006 est.
Subunit
1/100 qirsh (piastre)
Coins 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 qirush
Banknotes 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 pounds
Central bank Bank of Sudan
Website www.bankofsudan.org

The Sudanese pound (Arabic: جنيه سوداني junaih) is the currency of Sudan. Arabic names for the denominations appear on Sudanese coins, whilst both Arabic and English appear on the country's banknotes.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] First pound (SDP)

The first pound to circulate in Sudan was the Egyptian pound. Both Muhammad ibn Abdalla (the Mahdi) and Abdallahi ibn Muhammad (the Khalifa) issued coins which circulated alongside the Egyptian currency. The Egyptian pound circulated until its replacement by Sudan's own pound in 1956 at par.

The pound was subdivided into 100 qirush (Arabic: قروش, singular qirsh, قرش, English: piastre). During the rule of the Mahdi and Khalifa, the qirsh was subdivided into 40 para. From 1916, the Egyptian qirsh was subdivided into 10 millim (ملّيمات, singular: ملّيم) and this was adopted in 1956 in Sudan.

The pound was replaced in 1992 by the dinar (SDD) at a rate of 1 dinar = 10 pounds. While the dinar circulated in northern Sudan, in Southern Sudan, prices were still negotiated in pounds, whilst in Rumbek and Yei, the Kenyan shilling was used and accepted more within the transport sectors as well as for hotels/accommodation.

[edit] Second pound (SDG)

According to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of the Republic of The Sudan and The Sudan People's Liberation Movement, the Central Bank of Sudan (CBOS) shall adopt a program to issue a new currency as soon as is practical during the Interim Period. The design of the new currency shall reflect the cultural diversity of Sudan. Until a new currency has been issued with the approval of the Parties on the recommendations of the CBOS, the circulating currencies in Southern Sudan shall be recognised. The second pound began introduction on 9 or 10 January 2007, and became the only legal tender as of July 1, 2007.[1] [2] [3] It replaced the dinar at a rate of 1 pound = 100 dinar.

[edit] Coins

[edit] Issues of the Mahdi and Khalifa

In 1885, the Mahdi issued silver coins for 10 and 20 qirush and gold 100 qirush. These were followed by issues of the Khalifa in denominations of 10 para, 1, 2, 2½, 4, 5, 10 and 20 qirush. These coins were initially minted in silver in 1885. Over the following eleven years, severe debasement occurred, leading to billon, then silver-washed copper and finally copper coins being issued. The coinage ceased in 1897.

[edit] First pound

In 1956, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 millim, 2, 5 and 10 qirush. The millim denominations were struck in bronze, whilst the qirush denominations were in cupro-nickel. The 2, 5 and 10 millim were scallop shaped, although a round 5 millim was introduced in 1971. The 1 and 2 millim were last struck in 1969. In 1983, brass 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 qirush were introduced, with the 5 millim struck for the last time.

In 1987, aluminium-bronze 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 qirush were introduced, with the 25 and 50 qirush square and octagonal in shape, respectively. In 1989, stainless-steel 25 and 50 qirush and 1 pound were issued.

[edit] Second pound

Coins in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 qirush were introduced alongside the circulating dinar coins. The Central Bank of Sudan states that the 5 qirush coins are yellow coloured (perhaps aluminium-bronze) and the 10 qirush is silver coloured (made of stainless steel). The 20 and 50 qirush coins are bi-metallic, with the 20 qirush yellow ringed with a silver coloured centre and the 50 qirush the opposite. There were plans for 1 qirush coins but they haven't been issued as of December 2007.

[edit] Banknotes

[edit] First pound

25 qirush of the first pound
Obverse Reverse

In 1956, the Sudan Currency Board introduced notes for 25 and 50 qirush, 1, 5 and 10 pounds. Note production was taken over by the Bank of Sudan in 1961. 20-pound notes were introduced in 1981, followed by 50 pounds in 1984 and 100 pounds in 1988.

[edit] Questionable new notes

In 2005, National Public Radio reported that forces in Southern Sudan were printing pound notes bearing the name "Bank of New Sudan", but there is no such bank. In addition, numbers of the banknotes had duplicate serial numbers. Their legitimacy is questionable.[4] [5]

[edit] Second pound

Banknotes for 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 pounds as banknotes are issued.[2] As of April 2007, banknotes have only been issued in denominations of 1, 10 and 50 pounds.

Current SDG exchange rates
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[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

1st Sudanese pound
Preceded by:
Egyptian pound
Reason: independence (in 1956)
Ratio: at par
Currency of Sudan
1957June 8, 1992
Succeeded by:
Sudanese dinar
Location: Northern Sudan
Reason: inflation
Ratio: 1 dinar = 10 (1st) pounds
Currency of Southern Sudan
1992 – January, 2007
Note: see Second Sudanese Civil War
Succeeded by:
2nd Sudanese pound
Location: Southern Sudan
Reason: currency unification (peace treaty)
Ratio: 1 (2nd) pound = 1,000 (1st) pounds


2nd Sudanese pound
Preceded by:
Sudanese dinar
Location: Northern Sudan
Reason: inflation and currency unification (peace treaty)
Ratio: 1 (2nd) pound = 100 dinars
Currency of Sudan
January, 2007
Succeeded by:
Current
Preceded by:
1st Sudanese pound
Location: Southern Sudan
Reason: currency unification (peace treaty)
Ratio: 1 (2nd) pound = 1,000 (1st) pounds