Tanzanian shilling

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Tanzanian shilling
Shilingi za Kitanzania (Swahili)
1,000/= noteThe Bank of Tanzania headquarters in Dar es Salaam
ISO 4217
CodeTZS (numeric: 834)
Subunit0.01
Denominations
Subunit
1100cent
Banknotes500/=, 1,000/=, 2,000/=, 5,000/=, 10,000/=
Coins50/=, 100/=, 200/=, 500/=
Demographics
User(s) Tanzania
Issuance
Central bankBank of Tanzania
 WebsiteBank of Tanzania website
Valuation
Inflation5.6%
 SourceThe World Factbook, 2015 est.

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.[1]

Notation[edit]

Prices in the Tanzanian shilling are written in the form of x/y, 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 "-/50" and 100 shillings as "100/=" 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[edit]

200/= obverse

In 1966, coins were introduced in denominations of -/5, -/10, -/20 and -/50 and 1/=, with the -/5 struck in bronze, the -/10 in nickel-brass (copper-nickel-zinc) and the -/50 and 1/= in cupro-nickel. Cupro-nickel 5/= coins were introduced in 1972, followed by scalloped, nickel-brass -/10 in 1977. This First Series coins set, in circulation from 1966 up to 1984, was designed by Christopher Ironside OBE.[2]

In 1987, nickel-plated steel replaced cupro-nickel in the -/50 and 1/=, and cupro-nickel 5/= and 10/= coins were introduced, with the 5/= decagonal in shape. In 1990, nickel-clad-steel 5/=, 10/= and 20/= were introduced, followed by brass-plated steel coins for 100/= in 1993, 50/= in 1996 and copper-nickel-zinc 200/= in 1998.

Coins currently in circulation are the 50/=, 100/=, 200/=, and 500/=. The 500/= coin was issued on 8 September 2014.[3]

Tanzanian shilling coins
Image Value Composition Diameter Weight Thickness Edge Issued
-/5 bronze 23.24 mm (dodecagonal) 4.0 g 1.33 mm Smooth 1966-1984
-/10 nickel-brass 25 mm (scalloped) 5.03 g 1.49 mm Smooth 1977-1984

-/20 nickel-brass 24 mm 5 g Smooth 1966-1984

-/50 copper-nickel 21 mm 4 g 1.6 mm Reeded 1966-1984
-/50 nickel-plated steel 21 mm 4 g 1.8 mm Reeded 1988-1990

1/= copper-nickel 27.7 mm 8 g 1.62 mm Reeded 1966-1984
1/= nickel-plated steel 23.5 mm 6.5 g Reeded 1987-1992

5/= copper-nickel 31.5 mm (decagonal) 13.8 g 2.2 mm Segmented; five smooth and reeded parts 1972-1980
5/= copper-nickel 27.5 mm (decagonal) 8.3 g 2 mm Segmented; five smooth and reeded parts 1987-1989
5/= nickel-plated steel 27.5 mm (decagonal) 8.52 g 2 mm Reeded 1990-1993
10/= copper-nickel 29 mm 9.7 g 2 mm Reeded 1987-1989

10/= nickel-plated steel 29 mm 10 g 2.25 mm Reeded 1990-1993
20/= nickel-plated steel 32 mm (heptagonal) 13 g 2 mm Smooth 1990-1992

50/= brass-plated steel 22 mm (heptagonal) 7.91 g 2.9 mm Smooth 1996

100/= brass-plated steel 24.5 mm 9 g 2.7 mm Reeded 1993

200/= copper-nickel-zinc 26.8 mm 8 g 2 mm Segmented; five smooth and reeded parts 1998, 2008, 2014

500/= nickel-plated steel 27.5 mm 9.5 g 2.4 mm Reeded 2014

Banknotes[edit]

On 14 June 1966, the Benki Kuu Ya Tanzania (Bank of Tanzania) introduced notes for 5/=, 10/=, 20/= and 100/=. The 5/= note was replaced by a coin in 1972. 50/= notes were introduced in 1985, followed by 200/= in 1986, 500/= in 1989 and 1,000/= in 1990. The 10/=, 20/=, 50/= and 100/= notes were replaced by coins in 1987, 1990, 1996 and 1994, respectively. 5,000/= and 10,000/= 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.[4][5]

Banknotes in circulation today are 500/=, 1,000/=, 2,000/=, 5,000/= and 10,000/=

Older Series
Image Value Dimensions Main Colour Description Date of issue
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark
10/= - Green Julius Nyerere Arusha Declaration Monument Giraffe -
20/= - Blue-violet Julius Nyerere General Tyre East Africa Plant
100/= - Red Julius Nyerere Maasai
1997 Series[6]
Image Value Dimensions Main Color Description Date of issue Watermark
Obverse Reverse
[2] 500 /= (Shilingi Mia Tano) 138 x 69 mm Green Tanzanian coat of arms; Giraffe; Zebra Clove harvest; Uhuru Torch 1997 Giraffe
[3] 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
[4] 1000 /= (Shilingi Elfu Moja) 142 x 71 mm Red Tanzanian coat of arms; Julius Nyerere; African Elephant Kiwira coal mine; Door of People's Bank of Zanzibar 2000
[5] 5000 /= (Shillingi Elfu Tano) 145 x 73 mm Purple Tanzanian coat of arms; Giraffe; Rhino Giraffes; Mt Kilimanjaro 1997
[6] 10,000 /= (Shilingi Elfu Kumi) 149 x 75 mm Indigo Tanzanian coat of arms; Giraffe; Lion Bank of Tanzania; "House of Wonder" (Zanzibar)
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table.
2003 Series [7]
Image Value Dimensions Main Colour Description Date of issue
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark
500/= 130 × 63 mm Green African Buffalo Nkrumah Hall, University of Dar es Salaam Giraffe 2003
1,000/= 135 × 66 mm Blue Julius Nyerere Statehouse, Dar es Salaam
2,000/= 140 × 69 mm Orange-brown Lion, Mount Kilimanjaro Old Fort, Stone Town, Zanzibar
5,000/= 145 × 72 mm Purple Black Rhinoceros Geita gold Mine and House of Wonders Zanzibar
10,000/= 150 × 75 mm Red Elephant Bank of Tanzania headquarters in Dar es Salaam
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

Currently in Circulation[edit]

2011 Series[7]
Image Values Dimensions Main Colour Description Date of issue Date of first issue Watermark
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse
500/= 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 rod 2011 1 January 2010 Julius Kambarage Nyerere with electrotype 500
1,000/= 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
2,000/= 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
5,000/= 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
10,000/= 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
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table.
Current TZS exchange rates
From Google Finance: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD KES
From Yahoo! Finance: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD KES
From XE.com: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD KES
From OANDA: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD KES

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Notes

  1. ^ Linzmayer, Owen (2012). "Tanzania". The Banknote Book. San Francisco, CA: www.BanknoteNews.com.
  2. ^ "Bank of Tanzania: Banking Operations - Currency Museum: Coins". bot-tz.org. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  3. ^ "Image: IMG-20140907-WA0006.jpg, (960 × 1280 px)". bot.go.tz. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  4. ^ Tanzania new note family confirmed BanknoteNews.com. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  5. ^ [1] The Citizen. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  6. ^ "Bank of Tanzania Historical Notes". bot. Bank of Tanzania. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
  7. ^ "Tanzania new note family confirmed | Africa | Banknote News". banknotenews.com. Retrieved 2015-09-03.

Sources

External links[edit]

Preceded by:
East African shilling
Reason: currency independence
Ratio: at par
Note: independent shilling introduced in 1966, but EA shilling not demonetised until 1969
Currency of Tanzania
1966 –
Succeeded by:
Current