Mauritanian ouguiya
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- MRO is also the acronym for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
Image:MauritaniaP14-2000Ouguiya-2004 a.jpg
The ouguiya (Arabic: أوقية; ISO 4217: MRO) 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 being comprised of five khoums (singular and plural in English; Arabic: خمس).
The ouguiya was introduced in 1973, replacing the CFA franc at a rate of 1 ouguiya = 5 francs.
In August 2005, one euro was worth 330.79 ouguiya, while one US dollar was worth 268.17 ouguiya (official exchange rates).
Coins minted
- 1 khoums (not found in circulation)
- 1 ouguiya (rarely found in circulation)
- 5 ouguiya
- 10 ouguiya
- 20 ouguiya
Banknotes issued
- 100 ouguiya
- 200 ouguiya
- 500 ouguiya
- 1000 ouguiya
- 2000 ouguiya
Coins of 1/5 ouguiya (1 khoum) to 20 ouguiya were issued starting 1973, with the 1/5 ouguiya only issued in that year. The most recent issue was the 2003 1 ouguiya and 2004 for the other denominations. Coins are minted at the Kremnica Mint in Slovakia.
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 same denominations but with a new 2000 ouguiya banknote.
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.
Current MRO exchange rates
AUD | CAD | EUR | GBP | INR | NZD | USD
External links
