The dinar (Arabic: دينار; sign: £) was the currency of South Arabia, and then South Yemen, and the Republic of Yemen after Yemen's monetary unification on 1 July 1990. It was one of the two official currencies used in Yemen until 11 June 1996. It was subdivided into 1000 fils (فلس).

Yemeni dinar
الدينار اليمني
Dinar
Ten dinar banknote
ISO 4217
CodeYDD
Unit
PluralDinars
Symbol£
Denominations
Subunit
11000fils
Banknotes500 fils, £1, £5, £10
Coins2+12, 5, 10, 50, 100, 250 fils
Demographics
ReplacedEast African Shilling
Replaced byYemeni rial
User(s) South Arabia
 South Yemen
 Yemen (till 11 June 1996)
Issuance
Central bankBank of Yemen
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete.

History

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The dinar was introduced in 1965 as the South Arabian dinar, replacing the East African shilling at a rate of 1 dinar = 20 shillings, thus setting the dinar initially equal to one pound sterling, it also used the pound sign as its Latin script symbol. It was renamed the South Yemeni dinar after the Federation of South Arabia and the Protectorate of South Arabia united in 1967 as independent South Yemen. The South Yemeni dinar was replaced with the Yemeni rial following unification with North Yemen in 1990. Dinar banknotes remained legal tender during a transitional period until 1996. The exchange rate during that period was £1 = 26 YER.

For a wider history surrounding currency in the region, see British currency in the Middle East.

Coins

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In 1965, coins (dated 1964) were introduced for both the Federation of South Arabia and the Protectorate of South Arabia in denominations of 1, 5, 25 and 50 fils. The 1 fils was struck in aluminium, the 5 fils in bronze and the higher two denominations in cupro-nickel.

In 1971, coins were issued in the name of "Democratic Yemen", changing to the "People's Democratic Republic of Yemen" in 1973. That year, aluminium 2+12 fils were introduced, followed by aluminium 10 fils and cupro-nickel 100 and 250 fils in 1981. The 10 fils was scalloped shaped whilst the 100 fils was octagonal.

Image Value date
Obverse Reverse
    10 fils 1981
    50 fils 1964
    50 fils 1979
    100 fils 1981
    250 fils 1981

Banknotes

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On 1 April 1965, the South Arabian Currency Authority introduced notes in denominations of 250 fils, 500 fils, 1 dinar, and 5 dinars. A 10 dinar note was issued on 1 July 1967.[1]

Image Value Main Colour Description Date of
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Printing Issue
 
 
250 fils Brown Dhow boat with Port of Aden in background Date Palm tree
 
 
500 fils Green Dhow boat with Port of Aden in background Date palm, wheat
 
 
1 dinar Blue Dhow boat with Port of Aden in background

Lettering:

South Arabian Currency Authority

This note is legal tender for

One Dinar

Date palm and cotton

Lettering:

£1

د١

 
 
5 dinars Pink Dhow boat with Port of Aden in background Date palm, millet and cotton
 
 
10 dinars Black Dhow boat with Port of Aden in background

Lettering:

South Arabian Currency Authority

This note is legal tender for

Ten Dinars

Date palm, cotton, maize and wheat

Lettering:

£10

د١٠

In 1984, the Bank of Yemen introduced 500 fils as well as 1 dinar, 5 dinar, and 10 dinar notes that are like the preceding issues of South Arabia, except the English text and printer's imprint have been removed from the front, the name of the issuer has changed and now appears on the back, along with the name of the capital (ADEN).[2]

Image Value Main Colour Description Date of
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Printing Issue
500 fils
 
 
1 dinar
 
 
5 dinars
 
 
10 dinars
Preceded by:
East African shilling
Ratio: 1 dinar = 20 shillings = 1 British pound
Currency of South Yemen
1965 – 1990
Succeeded by:
Yemeni rial
Reason: unification with North Yemen to form Yemen
Ratio: 1 dinar = 26 rials

References

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  1. ^ Linzmayer, Owen (2012). "South Arabia". The Banknote Book. San Francisco, CA: www.BanknoteNews.com.
  2. ^ Linzmayer, Owen (2012). "Democratic Republic of Yemen". The Banknote Book. San Francisco, CA: www.BanknoteNews.com.
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