Tanzanian shilling

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Tanzanian shilling
Shilingi ya Tanzania (Swahili)
1 shilingi
1 shilingi
ISO 4217 Code TZS
User(s) Tanzania
Inflation 5.9%
Source The World Factbook, 2006 est.
Subunit
1/100 senti
Symbol x/y (see article)
Coins 50, 100, 200 shilingi
Banknotes 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000 shilingi
Central bank Bank of Tanzania
Website www.bot-tz.org

The shilingi (Swahili, English: shilling) is the currency of Tanzania, although widespread use of U.S. dollars is accepted. It is subdivided into 100 senti (cents in English). The Tanzanian shilling replaced the East African shilling in 1966 at par.

For earlier currencies used in Tanzania, see East African florin, East African rupee, Zanzibari rupee, Zanzibari riyal and German East African rupie.

Contents

[edit] Symbol

Amount in the Tanzanian shilingi is written in the form of x/y, where x is the amount above 1 shilingi, while y is the amount in senti. An equals sign or hyphen represent zero amount. For example, 50 senti is written as "=/50" or "-/50", while 100 shilingi is written as "100/=" or "100/-".

[edit] Coins

In 1966, coins were introduced in denominations of 5, 20 and 50 senti and 1 shilingi, with the 5 senti struck in bronze, the 20 senti in nickel-brass and the 50 senti and 1 shilingi in cupro-nickel. Cupro-nickel 5 shilingi coins were introduced in 1972, followed by scalloped, nickel-brass 10 senti in 1977. In 1987, nickel-clad steel replaced cupro-nickel in the 50 senti and 1 shilingi, and cupro-nickel 5 and 10 shilingi coins were introduced, with the 5 shilingi octagonal in shape. In 1990, nickel-clad-steel 5, 10 and 20 shilingi were introduced, followed by brass coins for 100 shilingi in 1994, 50 shilingi in 1996 and 200 shilingi in 1998.

Coins currently in circulation are the 50, 100 and 200 shilingi.

[edit] Banknotes

In 1966, the Benki Ku Yaa Tanzania (Bank of Tanzania) introduced notes for 5, 10, 20 and 100 shilingi (also denominated in shillings on the first series of notes). The 5 shilingi note was replaced by a coin in 1972. 50 shilingi notes were introduced in 1985, followed by 200 shilingi in 1986, 500 shilingi in 1989 and 1000 shilingi in 1990. The 10, 20, 50 and 100 shilingi notes were replaced by coins in 1987, 1990, 1996 and 1994, respectively. 5000 and 10,000 shilingi notes were introduced in 1995, followed by 2000 shilingi in 2003.

Banknotes in circulation today are 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10,000 shilingi.

2003 Series [1]
Image Value Dimensions Main Colour Description Date of issue
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark
500/= 130 × 63 mm Green African Buffalo Giraffe 2003
1000/= 135 × 66 mm Blue-violet Julius Nyerere
2000/= 140 × 69 mm Orange-brown Lion, Mount Kilimanjaro
5000/= 145 × 72 mm Purple Black Rhinoceros
10 000/= 150 × 75 mm Red Elephant
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixels per millimetre, a Wikipedia standard for world banknotes. For table standards, see the banknote specification table.
Current TZS exchange rates
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[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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Preceded by:
East African shilling
Reason: currency independence
Ratio: at par
Note: independent shilling introduced in 1966, but EA shilling not demonetized until 1969		 Currency of Tanzania
1966 –		 Succeeded by:
Current
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Currencies of Africa
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