Mauritian rupee

Mauritian rupee
roupie mauricienne (French)
ISO 4217 code	MUR
User(s)	Mauritius
Inflation	9.1%
Source	The World Factbook, 2007 est.
Subunit
1/100	cent
Symbol	₨[1]
Coins	₨ 1, ₨ 5, ₨ 10, ₨ 20
Banknotes	₨ 25, ₨ 50, ₨ 100, ₨ 200, ₨ 500, ₨ 1000, ₨ 2000
Central bank	Bank of Mauritius
Website	bom.intnet.mu

The rupee (sign: ₨; ISO 4217 code: MUR) 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.

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 rupees 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^[2]). 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.

Republic of Mauritius 1 Rupee coin

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.

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 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.

Currently circulating banknotes

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
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	University of Mauritius
1000 rupees	Sir Charles Gaëtan Duval	State House
2000 rupees	Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam	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 Tamil and Hindi can be found below the vignette.

Features for authenticity verification

1. The feel of banknotes paper
2. Three-dimensional watermark in the form of a dodo: when held up to the light the head of the dodo can be clearly viewed.
3. See-through in the form of a conch shell: this image completes when viewed against direct light.
4. 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.
5. Engraved Portrait in Intaglio ink.
6. Latent image: when viewed at eye level, the image of “BM” becomes visible.
7. Micro-text reading “BM”: under a magnifying glass these letters are clear to see.
8. 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 containing images of the dodo and the value “2000”

Commemorative coins

Value	Composition and finish	Mass	Diameter	Issue date	Commemorative subject
Rs 25	Silver 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 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 in Mauritius

Current MUR exchange rates
From Google Finance:	AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From Yahoo! Finance:	AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From OzForex:	AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From XE.com:	AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From OANDA.com:	AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD

References

1. ^ Bank of Mauritius. Accessed 25 Feb 2011.
2. ^ Schuler, Kurt. "Tables of Modern Monetary Systems (Mauritius)". Kurt Schuler. http://users.erols.com/kurrency/mu.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-03. 

External links

• Ministry Of Finance and Economic Development

Preceded by: Indian rupee, British pound, Mauritian dollar Ratio: both rupees = 0.5 dollar or 10¼ rupee = 1 pound	Currency of Mauritius 1877 –	Succeeded by: Current
	Currency of Seychelles 1877 – 1914	Succeeded by: Seychellois rupee Reason: became a separate crown colony in 1903 Ratio: at par

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