Mauritania Coin List

The official currency of Mauritania is the ouguiya, introduced in 1973 to replace the CFA franc. The Mauritanian monetary system has undergone significant changes throughout its history, reflecting the economic and political evolution of the country.

Current currency and its introduction

The Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU) has been the currency in circulation since 2018, when a new series of banknotes and coins was introduced. This monetary reform involved the elimination of a zero from the previous face value, with the aim of simplifying transactions and combating inflation. Current denominations include coins of 1, 5 and 10 uguiyas, and banknotes ranging from 50 to 1000 uguiyas.

Monetary history and highlights

Prior to independence in 1960, Mauritania used the French West African franc. Subsequently, it adopted the CFA franc until 1973, when the first uguiya was introduced. An important milestone in Mauritanian numismatics was the issuance of commemorative coins in 1974, celebrating the first anniversary of the ouguiya. In addition, in 2009, Mauritania issued its first series of bimetallic coins, marking a technological breakthrough in the country's coin production.