Libyan dinar
| دينار ليبي(Arabic) | |
|---|---|
 Banknotes of1⁄2,1, and 5 dinars | |
| ISO 4217 | |
| Code | LYD (numeric:434) |
| Subunit | 0.001 |
| Unit | |
| Symbol | LD andل.د |
| Denominations | |
| Subunit | |
| 1⁄1000 | dirham(dh.) |
| Banknotes | LD 1, LD 5, LD 10, LD 20, LD 50 |
| Coins | |
| Freq. used | 50 dhs., 100 dhs., LD1⁄4,LD1⁄2 |
| Rarely used | 1 dh., 5 dhs., 10 dhs., 20 dhs. |
| Demographics | |
| Date of introduction | 1971 |
| Replaced | Libyan pound |
| User(s) |  Libya |
| Issuance | |
| Central bank | Central Bank of Libya |
| Website | www |
| Valuation | |
| Inflation | 6.1% |
| Source | The World Factbook,2012 est. |
Thedinar(Arabic:دينار(Arabic pronunciation:[diːˈnɑːr]);sign:LDinLatin,ل.دinArabic;code:LYD) is the officialcurrencyofLibya.The dinar is divided into 1,000dirhams(درهم). It is issued by theCentral Bank of Libya,which also supervises the banking system and regulates credit.
History[edit]
It was introduced in September 1971 and replaced thepoundat par.[1]The currency was pegged to thespecial drawing rightsat a rate of 2.80 SDRs per dinar.
In 1972, theLibyan Arab Foreign Bankwas established to deal with overseas investment.
In February 1973, the dinar was pegged to the US dollar at a rate of 0.29679 dinar per dollar (LD 1 = US$3.37), which was maintained until 1986. The peg was switched to the special drawing rights on 18 March 1986, with 1 dinar = 2.80 SDRs. On 1 May 1986, the dinar was allowed to trade in a 7.5% range of 2.80 SDRs. This range was expanded several times.
The currency started to devalue gradually relative to the US dollar in the mid-1990s, reaching a value of US$1.55 in 2001. The dinar was devalued by 50% to US$0.77 in 2002.[2]
Ali Mohammed Salem, deputy governor of Central Bank of Libya, stated theexchange rateof Libyan dinar would be pegged to special drawing rights for one to three years, according to an interview toReuterson 27 December 2011.[3]
On 3 January 2021, the dinar was devalued to US$1 = LD 4.48 for all transactions following exchange rate unification, closing the gap between the official and black market exchange rates.[4]
Coins[edit]
Until 1975, old coins denominated inmilliemes(equal to the dirham) circulated. In 1975, coins were introduced in denominations of 1 Dh., 5 Dhs., 10 Dhs., 20 Dhs., 50 Dhs. and 100 Dhs. which bore the coat of arms of theFederation of Arab Republics.These were followed in 1979 by a second series of coins, in the same denominations, which bore a design of a horseman in place of the arms. LD1⁄4and LD1⁄2coins were issued in 2001 and 2004, respectively. In 2009, new 50 dhs., 100 dhs., LD1⁄4and LD1⁄2coins were issued. 1 dh., 5 dhs., 10 dhs., and 20 dhs. coins are rarely used as units of exchange. However, they still retain their status as legal tender.
In 2013 and 2014, the Central Bank of Libya issued LD1⁄4and LD1⁄2coins and 50 Dhs. and 100 Dhs. coins.[citation needed]
| Current Libyan dinar coins | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Value | Composition | Diameter | Weight | Thickness | Edge | Issued |
| 50 dhs. | Copper-nickel-plated steel | 23 mm | 5.1 g | 1.77 mm | Reeded | 2014 | |
| 100 dhs. | Copper-nickel-plated steel | 26 mm | 6.54 g | 1.9 mm | Plain | 2014 | |
| LD1⁄4 | Nordic gold | 26 mm | 6.55 g | 2 mm | Reeded | 2014 | |
| LD1⁄2 | Bi-metallicnordic goldcenter incopper-nickelring | 27 mm | 7.05 g | 1.9 mm | Reeded | 2014 | |
Banknotes[edit]
In 1971, banknotes were introduced in denominations of LD1⁄4,LD1⁄2,LD 1, LD 5 and LD 10. On May 15, 1980, new banknotes were issued for the LD 5 and LD 10 denominations (worth, at the time, £7stgand £14 stg, or US$16 and US$32) and Libyan citizens were allowed one week to exchange their existing notes at the Central State Bank branches, after which the old LD 5 and LD 10 notes would be worthless.[5]Persons making the exchange, however, were informed that only LD 1,000 worth of new notes would be allowed per customer, a move that "effectively wiped out the savings of the middle-class as well as the hoarded cash of the black marketeers" and that "brought a windfall of £1.5 billion to the cash-starved Treasury". After a public uproar, LeaderMuammar Gaddafiannounced on June 11 that although the seized money would not be confiscated or invested without full consultation with the 167 local "People's Congresses" in Libya.[6]
Notes of LD 20 were added in 2002. On August 27, 2008, theCentral Bank of Libyaannounced a new LD 50 note and that was scheduled to enter circulation on August 31, 2008.[7]The note was already in circulation and featured Gaddafi on the obverse.
The subjects depicted on the banknotes have not changed since series 2 except for the portrait of Gaddafi which became the new obverse design of the LD 1 note in series 4.
After the overthrow of Gaddafi's government in theFirst Libyan Civil Warof 2011, Central Bank GovernorGasem Azzozsaid that notes with the ousted strongman's face on them were still in circulation and would be used by theNational Transitional Councilto pay the salaries of public servants and government employees. The bank is holding a contest for redesigned banknotes that will likely eventually replace the Gaddafi-emblazoned notes.[8]
The central Bank started withdrawing the LD 50 note on January 14, 2012. Libyans have until March 15 to hand the note in to banks. Issam Buajila, the media manager of the central bank said that the LD 1 and LD 20 notes will be withdrawn from circulation soon.[9]Omar Elkaber, governor of the central bank, stated that the bank has already started printing new notes.[10]
The Central Bank of Libya has issued a revised LD 10 banknote with revised features, one example is the removal of the reference of the Gaddafi era "Jamahiriya" from upper right back, plus the use of English on the notes for the first time in two decades. Furthermore, the serial number prefix system has apparently been reset to "1". Two versions of the revised LD 10 banknote were issued, one with the central bank's name rendered with initial-capitals, which were printed byDe La Rueof theUKand the other with the central bank's name in all capital letters were printed byOberthur TechnologiesofFrance.Another notable differences for the two notes is both the holographic patch, the symbols on the top left corner on the notes and the date. The De La Rue version is identical to its previous issue, but the only notable difference is the serial number prefix, identified as "7A". The Oberthur Technologies issue has a different holographic patch, the addition of the crescent and star symbol on the top left corner of the note, the serial number prefix as "1" and the date 17.02.2011 (February 17, 2011, the date of the2011 Libyan revolution and civil war) added below.[11][12]
A revised LD 5 banknote was issued with altered features similar to the revised LD 10 banknote. The English text has replaced the Arabic text on the back, the removal of the Gaddafi era "Jamahiriya" from the front and upper right back of the note, and the Gaddafi era falcon crest has been removed from the monument to the Battle of Al-Hani.[13]
On February 17, 2013, on the occasion of the second anniversary of the Libyan civil war, the Central Bank of Libya issued a LD 1 banknote, its first issue following the2011 Libyan revolution and civil war.The front of the note depicts Anti-Gaddafiprotesters with theflag of the Libyan rebels.The back of the note depicts the flag of Libya and peace doves.[14]
On March 31, 2013, the Central Bank of Libya issued a LD 20 banknote. The predominantly orange-colored note features a school inGhadameson the front and the Al-Ateeq mosque and the oasis of Oujla on the back.[15]
In June 2013, the Central Bank of Libya issued a LD 50 banknote. The green-colored note features the Italian lighthouse in Benghazi on the front and the Rock formation in the Tadrart Acacus mountains on the back. This is the first note in Libya to utilize Crane's "Motion" thread.[16]
| Banknote Series of the Libyan dinar | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series | Denominations | Colours | Issued Dates | Note |
| 1 | LD1⁄4,LD1⁄2,LD 1, LD 5 and LD 10 | Orange, purple, blue, olive and grey | 1971–1972 | |
| 2 | All green | 1980–1981 | ||
| 3 | Green as the dominant colour, with brown, purple, blue, light green and multicoloured. | 1984 | ||
| 4 | Multicoloured | 1988 –ca. 1990 | English text on LD1⁄4,LD1⁄2,and LD 5 | |
| 4, revised | Slight change | ca. 1991–1993 | English text on LD1⁄4,LD1⁄2,and LD 5 notes was removed | |
| 5 | LD1⁄4,LD1⁄2,LD 1, LD 5, LD 10 and LD 20 | Multicoloured | 2002 | |
| 6 | LD 1, LD 5 and LD 10 | Blue, purple and green | 2004 | Easily visible foil (LD 1 and LD 5) or hologram (LD 10) on upper left on the obverse as the new anti-counterfeit device |
| 7 | LD 1, LD 5, LD 10, LD 20 (Series 2), LD 50 (Series 1) | Blue, red and green | 2008–2009 | Reworked designs and enhanced security features |
| 7A | LD 5 and LD 10 | Red (LD 5), Green (LD 10) | 2011-2012 | Identical to the Series 7 issues, but with the removal of the references to the Gaddafi era "Jamahiriya" |
| 1 (2013–present) | LD 1, LD 5, LD 10, LD 20, LD 50 | Multicolored | 2013–present | First series of banknotes after the 2011 Libyan revolution |
| 2 (2019) | LD 1 | Blue | 2019–present | First banknote of the Libyan dinar to be issued on polymer substrate, to commemorate the 8th anniversary of the 2011 Libyan Revolution |
| 3 (2021) | LD 5 | Brown | 2021–present | Second banknote of the Libyan dinar to be issued on polymer substrate |
Current series[edit]
| Current Series | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Value | Main Colour | Description | ||
| Obverse | Reverse | Obverse | Reverse | ||
| LD 1 | Purple | Anti-Gaddafiprotesters | Flag of Libya and peace doves | ||
| LD 5 | Brown | Ottoman Clock Tower | Zeus Temple inCyrene | ||
| LD 10 | Blue | Omar al-Mukhtar | Al Mukhtar horsemen | ||
| LD 20 | Orange | Al Ateeq mosque in Oujlah | Traditional school inGhadames | ||
| LD 50 | Green | Italian Lighthouse of Sede Khrebeech | Stone arch inTadrart Acacus | ||
Popular nomenclature and denominations[edit]
The Libyan dinar is commonly calledjni,[ʒni](westernLibyan Dialect) orjneh[ʒneh](eastern Libyan dialect), derived from the name of Britishguinea(cfgenēhجنيه for theEgyptian pound), a gold coin worth twenty-oneshillings.The namedinaris rarely used outside official circles. The authorized fractional unit, the dirham, is never mentioned in everyday conversation.Garsh- a variant of the wordqirsh- is employed instead, with 1garsh= 10 dirhams. One thousand dinars is stylishly called akilo[kiːlu].Similarly, five dinar notes and ten dinar notes are sometimes nicknamed, in the younger generation male slang,faifa[faːifa]andtsena[tseːna]respectively, which are playful feminizations of the English words five and ten, but may also be remnants of British slang words 'fiver' and 'tenner' for five and ten pound notes respectively. Libyan currency is nicknamed by LibyansʿOmar El-Mokhtarafter the Libyan freedom fighter who is featured on the obverse of the LD 10 note.
Eastern Libyan dinar[edit]
Since 2016, the Central Bank of Libya allied with theHouse of Representativesand issued its own Libyan dinar, with banknotes for LD 20 and LD 50 and a LD 1 coin, which was printed and coined byGoznakinRussia.They were issued in response to a shortage of cash in the eastern half of the country, reflecting the disunity of Libya that has two rival governments in the east and west.[17][18][19]
| Current LYD exchange rates | |
|---|---|
| FromGoogle Finance: | AUDCADCHFCNYEURGBPHKDJPYUSDEURJPYUSD |
| FromYahoo! Finance: | AUDCADCHFCNYEURGBPHKDJPYUSDEURJPYUSD |
| FromXE: | AUDCADCHFCNYEURGBPHKDJPYUSDEURJPYUSD |
| From OANDA: | AUDCADCHFCNYEURGBPHKDJPYUSDEURJPYUSD |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Linzmayer, Owen (2013). "Libya".The Banknote Book.San Francisco, CA: BanknoteNews.
- ^"سياسة سعر الصرف – مصرف ليبيا المركزي".cbl.gov.ly.Retrieved2022-01-11.
- ^"Libyan Islamic banking law seen in March".Business Recorder. 27 December 2011.Retrieved5 January2012.
- ^"Libya's divided central bank agrees exchange rate after first meeting in years".Reuters.2020-12-16.Retrieved2022-01-11.
- ^"Libya Writhing Under Qaddafi's Social Revolution",The New York Times,August 22, 1980, pA2
- ^"Gadafy bows to critics",The Guardian(London), June 13, 1980, p8
- ^(in Arabic)Central Bank of Libya issues a new 50 Dinars banknote-مصرف ليبيا المركزي يصدر ورقة نقدية جديدة من فئة الخمسين دينارا,Libyan Jamahiriya Broadcasting Agency,retrieved August 28, 2008
- ^Birsel, Robert (1 September 2011)."Dinars from heaven as Britain flies banknotes to Libya".Reuters.Retrieved18 September2011.
- ^"ibya withdraws notes bearing Kadhafi image".AFP. 14 January 2012. Archived fromthe originalon January 14, 2012.Retrieved15 January2012.
- ^Holmes, Oliver (13 January 2012)."Libyan central bank starts withdrawing old currency".Reuters.Retrieved15 January2012.
- ^Libya new 10-dinar note confirmed,BanknoteNews. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
- ^Libya new 10-dinar note reportedBanknoteNews. Retrieved 2012-06-28.
- ^Libya new 5-dinar note confirmedBanknoteNews. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
- ^Libya new 1-dinar note confirmedBanknoteNews. February 27, 2013. Retrieved on 2013-03-01.
- ^Libya new 20-dinar note to be issued 31.03.2013BanknoteNews. March 23, 2013. Retrieved on 2013-03-28.
- ^Libya new 50-dinar note confirmedBanknoteNews. June 16, 2013. Retrieved on 2013-06-18.
- ^Eastern Libyan central bank launches its own coins made in Russia,Reuters,20 October 2017. Retrieved on 2018-11-06.
- ^More Russia-printed dinars arrive,The Libya Herald, 5 May 2017. Retrieved on 2018-11-06.
- ^East Libya 1 dinar coinNumista (en.numista ). Retrieved on 2019-05-26.
External links[edit]
| Preceded by: Libyan pound Reason:Revolution (in 1969) Ratio:at par |
Currency ofLibya 1971 – |
Succeeded by: Current |
