Mauritian rupee
Encyclopedia
The rupee is the currency of Mauritius
.
It is theoretically divided into 100 cents; however, as at October 2011, only 5 and 20 cent coins, are currently in circulation, the latest mintage of these two coins was in 2010. A Half Rupee coin is also in circulation.
s following Indian immigration to Mauritius. The Mauritian rupee was introduced in 1877, replacing the Indian rupee, sterling
and the Mauritian dollar
, with the Mauritian rupee equal to one Indian rupee or half a Mauritian dollar. The pound was worth 10¼ rupees at that time. The Mauritian currency also circulated in the Seychelles
until 1914, when it was replaced by the Seychellois rupee at par.
In 1934, a peg to sterling replaced the peg to the Indian rupee, at the rate of 1 rupee = 1 shilling
6 pence
(the rate at which the Indian rupee was also pegged). This rate, equivalent to 13⅓ rupees = 1 pound, was maintained until 1979.
In 1971 a new set of coins and banknotes were introduced by the Royal Mint. This set has Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse and a range of heraldic motives on the reverse. Some of the reverse designs for this set were designed by Christopher Ironside
OBE including the 10 rupee, 200 gold rupee and 250 gold rupee (issued 1988).
In 1987, a new series of coins was introduced which, for the first time, did not feature the portrait of the monarch (Mauritius did not become a republic until 1992) but that of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam
. This coinage consisted of copper-plated-steel 1 and 5 cents (the 5 cents was substantially reduced in size), nickel-plated-steel 20 cents and ½ rupee, and cupro-nickel 1 and 5 rupees. Cupro-nickel 10 rupees were introduced in 1997. Coins currently in circulation are the 1, 5 and 10 rupees.
In 2007, a bi-metallic
20-rupee coin was issued to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Bank of Mauritius
.
As from 1966, Bank of Mauritius
has been responsible for the issue of banknotes and coins. The Bank of Mauritius issued its first notes in 1967, comprising 4 denominations: 5, 10, 25 and 50 rupees. This set of banknotes went through four issues whose only variations which varied only in the signatures of the Governors and the Managing Directors of the Bank of Mauritius appointed during that period.
The Bank of Mauritius made its fifth issue 1985, which consisted of a complete new set of banknotes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 rupees. A close study of these banknotes reveals an interesting array of subsets which were printed by two banknote printing companies. The notes were also designed at different time periods as there are very few identical and consistent design features appearing on all the denominations. Varying banknote numbering systems, different types of security threads, variations in the design and size of the Mauritian Coat of Arms, different ultraviolet light latent printing, inconsistent variations in the size incrementation between the denominations and multiple different typesets are just a few of the differences. This issue lasted up to 1998.
In 1998, The Bank of Mauritius made a sixth issue of banknotes consisting of 7 denominations, viz. 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 rupees. These banknotes had a standard format and were all issued simultaneously in November 1998. All the banknotes of this issue were printed in England by “Thomas de la Rue Limited”. These banknotes were withdrawn from circulation in June 1999 following controversies.
The Bank of Mauritius made its seventh issue of banknotes, which is still current, after June 1999.
There is also a drawing of the Bank of Mauritius building and a portrayal of the statue of justice on each of the denominations. Below the denomination in the top right hand corner is a feature to aid the visually impaired. This is in addition to the differences in sizes between the banknotes of various denominations.
and Hindi can be found below the vignette.
100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 rupee notes
Iridescent band in gold: when held under the light, this band visualizes and disappears when the viewing angle is changed.
100, 200 rupee notes
Silver metallic ink: dull silver metallic band running from top to bottom on front, left of note. Metallic strip also beneath top right value numeral.
500, 1000 rupee notes
Silver Foil: two different images, value numeral or geometric shape, can be seen when viewed from different angles.
2000 rupee note
Hologram
containing images of the dodo and the value “2000”
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
.
It is theoretically divided into 100 cents; however, as at October 2011, only 5 and 20 cent coins, are currently in circulation, the latest mintage of these two coins was in 2010. A Half Rupee coin is also in circulation.
History
The rupee was established by law in 1876 as the local currency of Mauritius. The rupee was chosen due to the massive inflow of Indian rupeeIndian rupee
The Indian rupee is the official currency of the Republic of India. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India....
s following Indian immigration to Mauritius. The Mauritian rupee was introduced in 1877, replacing the Indian rupee, sterling
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
and the Mauritian dollar
Mauritian dollar
In 1820, in response to a request from the British colony of Mauritius, the imperial government in London struck silver coins in the denominations of 1/4, 1/8, and 1/16 dollars. The dollar unit in question was equivalent to the Spanish dollar and these fractional coins were known as 'Anchor...
, with the Mauritian rupee equal to one Indian rupee or half a Mauritian dollar. The pound was worth 10¼ rupees at that time. The Mauritian currency also circulated in the Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
until 1914, when it was replaced by the Seychellois rupee at par.
In 1934, a peg to sterling replaced the peg to the Indian rupee, at the rate of 1 rupee = 1 shilling
Shilling
The shilling is a unit of currency used in some current and former British Commonwealth countries. The word shilling comes from scilling, an accounting term that dates back to Anglo-Saxon times where it was deemed to be the value of a cow in Kent or a sheep elsewhere. The word is thought to derive...
6 pence
Penny
A penny is a coin or a type of currency used in several English-speaking countries. It is often the smallest denomination within a currency system.-Etymology:...
(the rate at which the Indian rupee was also pegged). This rate, equivalent to 13⅓ rupees = 1 pound, was maintained until 1979.
Coins
In 1877, coins for 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 cents were introduced, with the lower three denominations in copper and the higher two in silver. Coin production ceased in 1899 and did not recommence until 1911, with silver coins not produced again until 1934, when ¼, ½ and 1 rupee coins were introduced. In 1947, cupro-nickel 10 cents were introduced, with cupro-nickel replacing silver in 1950.Christopher Ironside
Christopher Ironside FSIA 1970, OBE 1971, FRBS 1977 was an English painter and coin designer, particularly known for the reverse sides of the new British coins issued on decimalisation in 1971....
OBE including the 10 rupee, 200 gold rupee and 250 gold rupee (issued 1988).
In 1987, a new series of coins was introduced which, for the first time, did not feature the portrait of the monarch (Mauritius did not become a republic until 1992) but that of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam
Seewoosagur Ramgoolam
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam KT,GCMG,KCMG,LRCP, MRCS is the first Chief Minister, Prime Minister and sixth Governor General of Mauritius....
. This coinage consisted of copper-plated-steel 1 and 5 cents (the 5 cents was substantially reduced in size), nickel-plated-steel 20 cents and ½ rupee, and cupro-nickel 1 and 5 rupees. Cupro-nickel 10 rupees were introduced in 1997. Coins currently in circulation are the 1, 5 and 10 rupees.
In 2007, a bi-metallic
Bi-metallic coins
Bi-metallic coins are coins consisting of more than one metal or alloy, generally arranged with an outer ring around a contrasting center. Common circulating examples include the €1, €2, British £2, Canadian $2, South African R5, Turkish 1 lira, and all Mexican coins of $1 or higher...
20-rupee coin was issued to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Bank of Mauritius
Bank of Mauritius
The Bank of Mauritius is the central bank of the Republic of Mauritius. It was established in September 1967 as the central bank of Mauritius. It was modelled on the Bank of England and was, in effect, set up with the assistance of senior officers of the Bank of England.Amongst its...
.
Banknotes
The first banknotes were issued by the government dated 1876 in denominations of 5, 10 and 50 rupees. 1 rupee notes were added in 1919. In 1940, emergency issues were made of 25 and 50 cents and 1 rupee. In 1954, 25 and 1000 rupees were introduced.As from 1966, Bank of Mauritius
Bank of Mauritius
The Bank of Mauritius is the central bank of the Republic of Mauritius. It was established in September 1967 as the central bank of Mauritius. It was modelled on the Bank of England and was, in effect, set up with the assistance of senior officers of the Bank of England.Amongst its...
has been responsible for the issue of banknotes and coins. The Bank of Mauritius issued its first notes in 1967, comprising 4 denominations: 5, 10, 25 and 50 rupees. This set of banknotes went through four issues whose only variations which varied only in the signatures of the Governors and the Managing Directors of the Bank of Mauritius appointed during that period.
The Bank of Mauritius made its fifth issue 1985, which consisted of a complete new set of banknotes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 rupees. A close study of these banknotes reveals an interesting array of subsets which were printed by two banknote printing companies. The notes were also designed at different time periods as there are very few identical and consistent design features appearing on all the denominations. Varying banknote numbering systems, different types of security threads, variations in the design and size of the Mauritian Coat of Arms, different ultraviolet light latent printing, inconsistent variations in the size incrementation between the denominations and multiple different typesets are just a few of the differences. This issue lasted up to 1998.
In 1998, The Bank of Mauritius made a sixth issue of banknotes consisting of 7 denominations, viz. 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 rupees. These banknotes had a standard format and were all issued simultaneously in November 1998. All the banknotes of this issue were printed in England by “Thomas de la Rue Limited”. These banknotes were withdrawn from circulation in June 1999 following controversies.
The Bank of Mauritius made its seventh issue of banknotes, which is still current, after June 1999.
Obverse designs
Each denomination bears a hand engraved portrait of a prominent Mauritian figure, which appears on the left.| Denomination | Portrait | Vignette |
|---|---|---|
| 25 rupees | Sir Moilin Jean Ah-Chuen | Rodrigues Rodrigues (island) Rodrigues , sometimes spelled Rodriguez but named after the Portuguese explorer Diogo Rodrigues, is the smallest of the Mascarene Islands and a dependency of Mauritius... |
| 50 rupees | Mr Joseph Maurice Paturau | Le Caudan |
| 100 rupees | Mr Renganaden Seeneevassen | Court House |
| 200 rupees | Sir Abdool Razack Mohamed | Mauritian Market |
| 500 rupees | Mr Sookdeo Bissoondoyal Sookdeo Bissoondoyal Sookdeo Bissoondoyal was one of the major leaders who fought for the independence of Mauritius.-Career:... |
University of Mauritius |
| 1000 rupees | Sir Charles Gaëtan Duval | State House |
| 2000 rupees | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam KT,GCMG,KCMG,LRCP, MRCS is the first Chief Minister, Prime Minister and sixth Governor General of Mauritius.... |
Bull & Sugarcane Cart |
There is also a drawing of the Bank of Mauritius building and a portrayal of the statue of justice on each of the denominations. Below the denomination in the top right hand corner is a feature to aid the visually impaired. This is in addition to the differences in sizes between the banknotes of various denominations.
Reverse Designs
Each denomination carries a different vignette, depicting various aspects of Mauritius. The value figure in TamilTamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
and Hindi can be found below the vignette.
Features for authenticity verification
- The feel of banknotes paper
- Three-dimensional watermark in the form of a dodoDodoThe dodo was a flightless bird endemic to the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. Related to pigeons and doves, it stood about a meter tall, weighing about , living on fruit, and nesting on the ground....
: when held up to the light the head of the dodo can be clearly viewed. - See-through in the form of a conch shell: this image completes when viewed against direct light.
- Windowed security thread reading “Bank of Mauritius” when held up to the light, this can be seen as a continuous band running through the paper. Viewed flat, the metallic areas can be seen on the surface of the paper.
- Engraved Portrait in IntaglioIntaglio (printmaking)Intaglio is a family of printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, known as the matrix or plate, and the incised line or area holds the ink. Normally, copper or zinc plates are used as a surface, and the incisions are created by etching, engraving, drypoint, aquatint or...
ink. - Latent image: when viewed at eye level, the image of “BM” becomes visible.
- Micro-text reading “BM”: under a magnifying glass these letters are clear to see.
- Under ultra-violet light: figures corresponding to the face value of the banknote become apparent.
100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 rupee notes
Iridescent band in gold: when held under the light, this band visualizes and disappears when the viewing angle is changed.
100, 200 rupee notes
Silver metallic ink: dull silver metallic band running from top to bottom on front, left of note. Metallic strip also beneath top right value numeral.
500, 1000 rupee notes
Silver Foil: two different images, value numeral or geometric shape, can be seen when viewed from different angles.
2000 rupee note
Hologram
Holography
Holography is a technique that allows the light scattered from an object to be recorded and later reconstructed so that when an imaging system is placed in the reconstructed beam, an image of the object will be seen even when the object is no longer present...
containing images of the dodo and the value “2000”
Commemorative coins
| Value | Composition and finish | Mass | Diameter | Issue date | Commemorative subject |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rs 25 | Silver Silver Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal... non-proof |
38.61 g | 38.61 mm | April 1978 | 10th anniversary of the independence of Mauritius |
| Rs 20 | Silver proof | 28.28 g | 38.61 mm | May 1998 | 50th anniversary of the wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip |
| Rs 1000 | Gold Gold Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a... proof |
17 g | 31.00 mm | January 2000 | 150th anniversary of the setting up of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce & Industry |
| Rs 10 | Silver proof | 28.28 g | 38.60 mm | January 2000 | 150th anniversary of the setting up of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce & Industry |
| Rs 100 | Silver proof | 36.76 g | 44 mm | November 2001 | Centenary of the arrival of Mahatma Gandhi Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement... in Mauritius |