Moroccan dirham

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Moroccan dirham
درهم مغربي (Arabic)
ISO 4217 Code MAD
User(s) Morocco and Western Sahara
Inflation 2.8%
Source The World Factbook, 2006 est.
Subunit
1/100 santim
Symbol د.م.
Coins 1, 5, 10, 20 santimat, ½, 1, 5, and 10 dirham
Banknotes 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 dirham
Central bank Bank Al-Maghrib
Website www.bkam.ma

The dirham (Arabic: درهم, plural: درهمان , دراهم or درهما) is the currency of Morocco. Its ISO 4217 code is "MAD". It is subdivided into 100 santimat (singular: santim, Arabic singular: سنتيم, plural: سنتيما or سنتيمات). The dirham is issued by the Bank Al-Maghrib, the central bank of Morocco. It is also the de facto currency in Western Sahara.

Contents

Before the introduction of a modern coinage in 1882, Morocco issued copper coins denominated in falus, silver coins denominated in dirham and gold coins denominated in benduqi. From 1882, the dirham became a subdivision of the rial, with 10 dirham = 1 rial.

The dirham was reintroduced in 1960. It replaced the franc as the major unit of currency but, until 1974, the franc continued to circulate, with 1 dirham = 100 francs. In 1974, the santim replaced the franc.

In 1960, silver 1 dirham coins were introduced. These were followed by nickel 1 dirham and silver 5 dirham coins in in 1965. In 1974, with the introduction of the santim, a new coinage was introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 santimat and 1 dirham. The 1 santim coins were aluminium, the 5 up to 20 santimat were minted in brass, with the highest two denominations in cupro-nickel. The 1 santim was only minted until 1975. Cupro-nickel 5 dirham coins were added in 1980. In 1987, new designs were introduced, with a ½ dirham replacing the 50 santimat without changing the size or composition. The new 5 dirham coin was bimetallic, as was the 10 dirham coin introduced in 1995.

Dirham Coins [1]
Value Technical parameters Description
Diameter Mass Composition Edge Obverse Reverse
1 centime 17 mm 0.7 g Aluminium Smooth Design of fishing Arms of the Kingdom and inscription "Kingdom of Morocco"
5 centimes 17.5 mm 2 g Aluminium bronze
92% copper
6% aluminium
2% nickel
Smooth Fish in a fishing net under a boat tiller Arms of the Kingdom and inscription "Kingdom of Morocco"
10 centimes 20 mm 3 g Ridged An ear of corn Arms of the Kingdom and inscription "Kingdom of Morocco"
20 centimes 23 mm 4 g Ridged Design representing a Fibule Arms of the Kingdom and inscription "Kingdom of Morocco"
½ dirham 21 mm 4 g Cupronickel
75% copper
25% nickel
Ridged Design representing communications and new technology Arms of the Kingdom and inscription "Kingdom of Morocco"
1 dirham 24 mm 6 g Ridged Mohammed VI Arms of the Kingdom and inscription "Kingdom of Morocco"
5 dirhams 26.2 mm 6.8 g Ring: 82.5% iron
          17.5% chromium
Center: Aluminium bronze (as 20 centimes)
Ridged Hassan II Arms of the Kingdom and inscription "Kingdom of Morocco"
10 dirhams 28 mm 12 g Ring: Aluminium bronze (as 20 centimes)
Center: Cupronickel (as 1 dirham)
Ridged Hassan II Arms of the Kingdom and inscription "Kingdom of Morocco"

The first notes denominated in dirham were overprints on earlier franc notes, in denominations of 50 dirham (on 5000 francs) and 100 dirham (on 10,000 francs). In 1965, new notes were issued for 5, 10 and 50 dirham. 100 dirham notes were introduced in 1970, followed by 200 dirham notes in 1991 and 20 dirham in 1996. 5 dirham notes were replaced by coins in 1980, with the same happening to 10 dirham notes in 1995.

Dirham Banknotes [2]
1987 Series
Value Colour Obverse Reverse
10 dirhams Violet Hassan II Moroccan lute
50 dirhams Green Hassan II A fantasia scene
100 dirhams Brown Hassan II The Green March
200 dirhams Blue Hassan II Shellfish, a branch of coral, and an Arab fishing boat.
1996 Series
20 dirhams Brown-reddish Hassan II Wall fountain of the Hassan II Mosque
2002 Series
50 dirhams Green Mohammed VI, Mohammed V A clay-made building (Ksour)
100 dirhams Brown Mohammed VI, Mohammed V, and Hassan II The Green March
200 dirhams Blue Mohammed VI and Hassan II A window of the Hassan II Mosque
50 dirhams and Ksour in the background
50 dirhams and Ksour in the background
Current MAD exchange rates
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C. L. Krause & C. Mishler, Standard Catalog of World Coins, Krause Publications

A. Pick, Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Krause Publications

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