Algerian dinar

Algerian dinar دينار جزائري (Arabic)
Current circulating coins
ISO 4217 Code	DZD
User(s)	Algeria
Inflation	2.6%
Source	The World Factbook, 2006 est.
Subunit
1/100	santeem (defunct)
Symbol	دج (Arabic) or DA (Latin)
Coins
Freq. used	5, 10, 20, 50, 100 dinar
Rarely used	½ , 1, 2 dinar
Banknotes
Freq. used	200, 500, 1000 dinar
Rarely used	100 dinar (phase out)
Central bank	Banque d'Algérie
Website	www.bank-of-algeria.dz

The dinar (Arabic: دينار) (sign: د.ج or DA; code: DZD) is the currency of Algeria and it is subdivided into 100 santeem (سنتيم).

Etymology

The name "dinar" is ultimately derived from the Roman denarius.

History

The dinar was introduced in 1964, replacing the Algerian new franc at par.

Coins

In 1964, coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 santeem, and 1 dinar were introduced, with the 1, 2 and 5 santeem struck in aluminium, the 10, 20 and 50 santeem 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 santeem were not struck again, whilst the 5, 10 and 20 santeem were last struck in the 1980s.

In 1992, a new series of coins was introduced consisting of ¼, ½, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dinar. The 10, 20, 50 and 100 dinar coins are bimetallic.

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

Banknotes

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

Third series
Image		Value	Main Colour	Description		Date of
Obverse	Reverse			Obverse	Reverse	printing	issue
		10 DA	Green	Diesel passenger train	Mountain village	2 December 1983
		20 DA	Red		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 sabers in a seal, and Algerian navy in a battle	Pre-colonial invasion: Battle of El Harrach (1775) victory of the Algerian horse riders 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	Romans fighting in a seal, a Roman tomb in Tipaza, a hot water fall in Hammam Debagh, Guelma Province (?)	Numidian Period: Battle on elephants between Numidians and invading Romans	21 May 1992 10 June 1998	1996 2000
		1000 DA	Bistre purple	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
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.

See also

• Economy of Algeria

References

External links

Economy of Algeria Currency: Algerian dinar Communications Banking  · Communications  · History of Trade  · Transportation Industries: Agriculture  · Mining  · Tourism