Mauritanian ouguiya

MRO is also the acronym for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
Mauritanian ouguiya
أوقية موريتانية (Arabic)
Current coins
ISO 4217 code MRO
User(s)  Mauritania
Inflation 7.3%
Source The World Factbook, 2007 est.
Subunit
1/5 khoums
Symbol UM
Coins
Freq. used 5, 10, 20, 50 ouguiya[1][2]
Rarely used 1 khoums (1/5 Ouguiya), 1 ouguiya
Banknotes 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 ouguiya[3]
Central bank Banque Centrale de Mauritanie
Website www.bcm.mr
Printer Giesecke & Devrient
Website www.gi-de.com

The ouguiya (sign: UM;[4] Arabic: أوقية‎; currency code: MRO), also spelt "ougiya,"[5] is the currency of Mauritania. It is the only circulating currency other than the Malagasy ariary whose division units are not based on a power of ten, each ouguiya comprising five khoums (singular and plural in English, Arabic: خمس‎, meaning "one fifth").

The ouguiya was introduced in 1973, replacing the CFA franc at a rate of 1 ouguiya = 5 francs.

Contents

Coins

In 1973, 15 (1 khoums), 1, 5, 10 and 20 ouguiya coins were introduced. This was the only year that the khoum was minted, as the ouguiya was worth five CFA Francs a khoum was the equivalent of the franc (which had no subdivision). The most recent issues were in 2003 (1 ouguiya) and 2004 (other denominations). Coins are minted at the Kremnica mint in Slovakia. The coinage was slightly changed in 2009, with a reduced 1 ouguiya in plated composition and a bi-metallic 20 ouguiya issued. A bi-metallic 50 ougiya was issued December 2010.

Banknotes

In 1973, notes were issued by the Central Bank in denominations of 100, 200 and 1000 ouguiya. In 1974, a second series of notes was issued in the same denominations, with 500 ouguiya notes added in 1979. Banknotes have been printed by Giesecke & Devrient in Munich, starting with the second issue. New banknotes were introduced in 2004 to upgrade security features. They include all the earlier denominations plus a new 2000 ouguiya note. A new 5,000 oughia was issued in 2010.

Numismatic information

Within Nouakchott, the nation's capital, most coins are in fine to very fine condition; banknotes of 100 and 200 ouguiya tend to be in poor to fair condition, larger denominations are in fine to extremely fine condition.

The Central Bank is unhelpful in providing new condition coins and banknotes. Some interest in setting up a numismatic program exists, however.

Current MRO exchange rates
From Google Finance: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From Yahoo! Finance: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From OzForex: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From XE.com: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From OANDA.com: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD

See also

References

  1. ^ Pièces, Banque Centrale de Mauritanie
  2. ^ http://worldcoinnews.blogspot.com/search/label/mauritania
  3. ^ Billets, Banque Centrale de Mauritanie
  4. ^ Banque Centrale de Mauritanie. Accessed 25 Feb 2011.
  5. ^ Oxford Dictionary of English

External links