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 ouguiya[1]
Rarely used	1 khoums (1/5 Ouguiya), 1 ouguiya
Banknotes	100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 ouguiya[2]
Central bank	Banque Centrale de Mauritanie
Website	www.bcm.mr
Printer	Giesecke & Devrient
Website	www.gi-de.com

The ouguiya (Arabic: أوقية‎; currency code: MRO), also spelt ougiya^[3], 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.

Coins

In 1973, ¹⁄₅ (1 khoums), 1, 5, 10 and 20 ouguiya coins were introduced, with the 1 khoums only issued in that year. The most recent issues were in 2003 (1 ouguiya) and 2004 (other denominations). Coins are minted at the Kremnica Mint in Slovakia.

Banknotes

1000 ouguiya of the new series.

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.

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.

Obverse of 1 ouguiya

Reverse of 1 ouguiya

See also

• Economy of Mauritania

References

External links

• Coin information

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