Vanuatu vatu

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Vanuatu vatu

200 vatu commemorative banknote

ISO 4217 Code VUV

User(s) Vanuatu

Inflation -1.6%

Source The World Factbook, 2005 est.

Subunit

None None

Symbol Vt

Coins Vt1, Vt2, Vt5, Vt10, Vt20, Vt50, Vt100

Banknotes Vt100, Vt200, Vt500, Vt1000, Vt5000

Central bank

Reserve Bank of Vanuatu

Website www.rbv.gov.vu

The vatu (ISO 4217: VUV, sometimes Vt) is the currency of Vanuatu. Vatu has no subdivisions.

1 History
2 Coins
3 Banknotes
4 "Dollar"
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] History

The vatu was introduced in 1982, after independence, to replace the New Hebrides franc at par. The vatu's introduction also saw the end of the official circulation of the Australian dollar in Vanuatu.

[edit] Coins

In 1983, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 vatu coins were introduced, followed by 100 vatu in 1988.

Denomination	Composition	Diameter
1 vatu	Nickel-brass	16 mm
2 vatu		19 mm
5 vatu		23 mm
10 vatu	Cupro-nickel	24 mm
20 vatu		28 mm
50 vatu		33 mm
100 vatu	Nickel-brass	23 mm

[edit] Banknotes

In 1982, notes were introduced by the Central bank of Vanuatu in denominations of 100, 500 and 1000 vatu. 5000 vatu notes followed in 1989. In 1993, the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu took over paper money issuance and introduced notes for 500 and 1000 vatu. 200 vatu notes were introduced in 1995

[edit] "Dollar"

Local residents sometimes refer to a notional dollar, equal to 100 vatu, without specifying which country's currency they have in mind. This stems from the period 1966–1973, when the New Hebrides franc was pegged to the Australian dollar at a rate of 100 francs = 1 dollar. Although no relationship currently exists, it simplifies thinking in the larger numbers which a low-value unit causes. For example, the Government's budget of 6,000,000,000 VUV is in fact only about 50,000,000 USD.

The concept of this notional dollar is supported by the size of the 100 vatu coin: at 23 mm it is comparable to the Australian dollar (25 mm) and the New Zealand dollar (23 mm) but the thickness is equivalent to the current British pound coin. Traders will often accept a real dollar (regardless of its country) as an equivalent to local currency.

Current VUV exchange rates

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[edit] See also

Economy of Vanuatu

[edit] References

Krause, Chester L. and Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801-1991, 18th ed., Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-150-1.
Pick, Albert (1994). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: General Issues, Colin R. Bruce II and Neil Shafer (editors), 7th ed., Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-207-9.