Coins of the Maldivian rufiyaa

The coins of the Maldivian rufiyaa are documented since it became a British protectorate in 1304 AH (1887).

The Maldive Islands were granted independence outside the Commonwealth of Nations as an independent monarchy. The 2nd Republic was declared in November 1968. The Maldive Islands returned to the Commonwealth in 1982. The Maldives was again temporarily outside the Commonwealth from October 2016 until 1 February 2020, when they returned to the Commonwealth.

Note about the Islamic calendar: The dates do not always correspond exactly, as the AH year is 11 days shorter than a year on the Gregorian calendar.

Coins issued from 1900–1902

In 1318 AH (1900), a copper larin (or laari) was struck. In 1319 AH (1901), a copper laari was also struck. In 1320 AH (1902), a copper laari and a 4 laari was struck.

Coins issued from 1913 These coins were an issue of 1 laari and 4 laari coins that were struck in 1331 AH (1913) at Heaton's Mint in Birmingham, England, despite the fact that they are inscribed 'Struck at Malé' in Arabic.

Coins issued from 1960 These coins were the last coins to have been issued under the British protectorate. They were also the only coins to have been struck during the reign of Sultan Mohammed Farid Didi (1954–1968). These coins were struck at the Royal Mint in London. They have the same dimensions as the coins of Ceylon, which were in everyday circulation in the Maldive Islands. The coins that were struck in 1960 were the following denominations:

1 laari 2 laari 5 laari 10 laari 25 laari 50 laari

There were two types of 25 and 50 laari coins. The first type has a security groove on the edge of the coin, and the other has a reeded edge. The coins are entirely inscribed in Arabic and Divehi.

The first coins to be issued by the Maldive Islands in the period outside the Commonwealth (1965–1982) was the issue of 1389 AH (1970). In this period, the first coins denominated in rufiyaa were struck. Only in the late 1970s do the dates on Maldivian coins begin to correspond exactly (e.g. the 1399 AH (1979) and 1400 AH (1980) silver 100 rufiyaa commemorative coins). Only in the late 1970s did English first appear on Maldivian coins.

First series (1960) Image Value Diameter(mm) Mass(g) Composition Edge Obverse Reverse Issue 1 laari 15.00 1.50 Bronze Smooth Lettering :Malé the Maldives;value Coat of arms;year of issue 1960 0.456 Aluminum 1970–1979 2 laari 18.20 3.15 Bronze Smooth 1960 0.948 Aluminum 1970–1979 5 laari 20.32 2.70 Nickel brass Smooth 1960 1.00 Aluminum 1970–1979 10 laari 23.11 5.30 Nickel brass Smooth 1960 1.95 Aluminum 1960–1979 25 laari 20.19 4.15 Nickel brass Security 1960 Reeded 1960–1979 50 laari 23.60 5.65 Nickel brass Security 1960 Reeded 1960–1979

Current issue The first coin to be issued after the return of the Maldive Islands' return to the Commonwealth was the 1 rufiyaa coin dated 1402 AH (1982). This coin has the coat of arms on the obverse with the dates. The reverse of the coin is inscribed 'REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES 1 RUFIYAA'. A series of minor coins denominated from 1 laari to 50 laari was released into circulation in 1404 AH (1984). Since then, a number of commemorative coins have been struck, including a series of 250 rufiyaa medal-coins (listed in the 2005 edition of Krause Unusual World Coins catalogue). In 1995, the 2 rufiyaa coin was released into circulation to replace the 2 rufiyaa banknote.

A bimetallic 2 rufiyaa coin was released into circulation in 2017, replacing the previous version of the coin issued in 1995.

Second series (1982–2017) Image Value Diameter(mm) Mass(g) Composition Edge Obverse Reverse Issue 1 laari 15.00 0.456 Aluminum Smooth Lettering:Maldives and ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭ ;value Coconut palm;year of issue 1984 5 laari 20.32 2.00 Aluminum Smooth Tuna;year of issue 1984–1990 16.85 0.62 Reeded 2012 10 laari 23.11 1.95 Aluminum Smooth Odi;year of issue 1984–2001 18.10 0.85 2012 25 laari 20.19 4.15 Nickel brass Reeded Malé minaret;year of issue 1984–1996 3.75 Brass-plated steel 2008 50 laari 23.60 5.65 Nickel brass Reeded Loggerhead sea turtle;year of issue 1984–1995 5.15 Brass-plated steel 2008 1 rufiyaa 25.91 6.41 Nickel-plated steel Reeded Lettering:Republic of Maldives;value Coat of arms;year of issue 1982 2 rufiyaa 25.50 11.70 Nickel brass Reeded with lettering: Conch shell;Lettering: ދިވެހިރާއްޖ ;year of issue 1995–2007 Brass-plated steel 2007 25.50 6.20 Outer: Nickel brass Plain 2017 Inner: Nickel-plated steel

Gallery

Coins of the Maldivian rufiyaa

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