The shilling (Swahili: shilingi; abbreviation: TSh; code: TZS) is the currency of Tanzania. It is subdivided into 100 cents (senti in Swahili). The Tanzanian shilling replaced the East African shilling on 14 June 1966 at par.

Notation

Prices in the Tanzanian shilling are written in the form of , where x is the amount above 1 shilling, while y is the amount in cents. An equals sign or hyphen represents zero amount. For example, 50 cents is written as "" and 100 shillings as "" or "100/-". Sometimes the abbreviation TSh is prefixed for distinction. If the amount is written using words as well as numerals, only the prefix is used (e.g. TSh 10 million).

This pattern was modelled on sterling's pre-decimal notation, in which amounts were written in some combination of pounds (£), shillings (s), and pence (d, for denarius). In that notation, amounts under a pound were notated only in shillings and pence.

Coins

In 1966, coins were introduced in denominations of , , and and , with the struck in bronze, the in nickel-brass (copper-nickel-zinc) and the -/50 and 1/= in cupro-nickel. Cupro-nickel coins were introduced in 1972, followed by scalloped, nickel-brass in 1977. This First Series coins set, in circulation from 1966 up to 1984, was designed by Christopher Ironside OBE.

In 1987, nickel-plated steel replaced cupro-nickel in the and , and cupro-nickel and coins were introduced, with the decagonal in shape. In 1990, nickel-clad-steel , and were introduced, followed by brass-plated steel coins for in 1993, in 1996 and copper-nickel-zinc in 1998.

Coins currently in circulation are the , , , and . The coin was issued on 8 September 2014.

Tanzanian shilling coins Image Value Composition Diameter Weight Thickness Edge Issued bronze 23.24 mm (dodecagonal) 4.0 g 1.33 mm Smooth 1966-1984 nickel-brass 25 mm (scalloped) 5.03 g 1.49 mm Smooth 1977-1984 nickel-brass 24 mm 5 g Smooth 1966-1984 copper-nickel 21 mm 4 g 1.6 mm Reeded 1966-1984 nickel-plated steel 21 mm 4 g 1.8 mm Reeded 1988-1990 copper-nickel 27.7 mm 8 g 1.62 mm Reeded 1966-1984 nickel-plated steel 23.5 mm 6.5 g Reeded 1987-1992 copper-nickel 31.5 mm (decagonal) 13.8 g 2.2 mm Segmented; five smooth and reeded parts 1972-1980 copper-nickel 27.5 mm (decagonal) 8.3 g 2 mm Segmented; five smooth and reeded parts 1987-1989 nickel-plated steel 27.5 mm (decagonal) 8.52 g 2 mm Reeded 1990-1993 copper-nickel 29 mm 9.7 g 2 mm Reeded 1987-1989 nickel-plated steel 29 mm 10 g 2.25 mm Reeded 1990-1993 nickel-plated steel 32 mm (heptagonal) 13 g 2 mm Smooth 1990-1992 brass-plated steel 22 mm (heptagonal) 7.91 g 2.9 mm Smooth 1996, 2012, 2015 brass-plated steel 24.5 mm 9 g 2.7 mm Reeded 1993, 1994, 2012, 2015 copper-nickel-zinc 26.8 mm 8 g 2 mm Segmented; five smooth and reeded parts 1998, 2008, 2014 nickel-plated steel 27.5 mm 9.5 g 2.4 mm Reeded 2014, 2019

Banknotes

On 14 June 1966, the Benki Kuu Ya Tanzania (Bank of Tanzania) introduced notes for , , and . The note was replaced by a coin in 1972. notes were introduced in 1985, followed by in 1986, in 1989 and in 1990. The , , and notes were replaced by coins in 1987, 1990, 1996 and 1994, respectively. and notes were introduced in 1995, followed by 2,000/= in 2003. A new series of notes came out in 2011. These new notes include many security features that prevent counterfeiting.Tanzania new note family confirmed BanknoteNews.com. Retrieved 2011-10-22. The Citizen. Retrieved 2011-10-22.

Banknotes in circulation today are , , , and

Older Series Image Value Dimensions Main Colour Description Date of issue Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark - Green Julius Nyerere Arusha Declaration Monument Giraffe - - Blue-violet General Tyre East Africa Plant - Red Maasai

1997 Series Image Value Dimensions Main Color Description Date of issue Watermark Obverse Reverse 500 /= (Shilingi Mia Tano) 138 x 69 mm Green Tanzanian coat of arms; Giraffe; Zebra Clove harvest; Uhuru Torch1997Giraffe 1000 /= (Shillingi Elfu Moja) 142 x 71 mm Red Tanzanian coat of arms; Giraffe; African Elephant Kiwira coal mine; Door of People's Bank of Zanzibar Tanzanian coat of arms; Julius Nyerere; African Elephant2000 5000 /= (Shillingi Elfu Tano) 145 x 73 mm Purple Tanzanian coat of arms; Giraffe; Rhino Giraffes; Mount Kilimanjaro1997 10,000 /= (Shilingi Elfu Kumi) 149 x 75 mm Indigo Tanzanian coat of arms; Giraffe; Lion Bank of Tanzania; "House of Wonder" (Zanzibar)

2003 Series Image Value Dimensions Main Colour Description Date of issue Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark 130 × 63 mm Green African Buffalo Nkrumah Hall, University of Dar es Salaam Giraffe 2003 135 × 66 mm Blue Julius Nyerere Statehouse, Dar es Salaam 140 × 69 mm Orange-brown Lion, Mount Kilimanjaro Old Fort, Stone Town, Zanzibar 145 × 72 mm Purple Black RhinocerosGeita Gold Mine and House of Wonders Zanzibar 150 × 75 mm Red Elephant Bank of Tanzania headquarters in Dar es Salaam

Currently in circulation

2011 Series Image Values Dimensions Main Colour Description Date of issue Date of first issue WatermarkObverseReverse Obverse Reverse 120 x 60 mm Green Tanzanian coat of arms; Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume University of Dar es Salaam central hall building; graduating students wearing caps and gowns; Aesculap's rod20111 January 2010Julius Kambarage Nyerere with electrotype 500 125 x 65 mm Blue Tanzanian coat of arms; President Julius Kambarage Nyerere; Bismarck Rock in Mwanza Harbor Coffee plant; State House (Ikulu) building with flag in Dar es Salaam Julius Kambarage Nyerere with electrotype 1000 130 x 66 mm Orange Tanzanian coat of arms; Lion Palm trees; old Omani Arab Fort (Ngome Kongwe) in Zanzibar's Stone Town; carved block Julius Kambarage Nyerere with electrotype 2000 135 x 67 mm Purple Tanzanian coat of arms; plant; black rhinoceros Cyanid Leaching plant of the gold mines of Geita Julius Kambarage Nyerere with electrotype 5000 140 x 68 mm Red Tanzanian coat of arms; Elephant Flowers; Bank of Tanzania headquarters building in Dar es Salaam Julius Kambarage Nyerere with electrotype 10000

See also Economy of Tanzania Ugandan shilling Kenyan shilling

References

Notes

Sources

External links

Bank of Tanzania page on circulating banknotes The banknotes of Tanzania