{{short description|Currency of Mauritania}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox currency | local_name1 = أوقية موريتانية | local_name_lang1 = ar | local_name2 = Ouguiya | local_name_lang2 = fr | image_1 = MRU coins.jpg | image_2 = | image_title_1 = Current coins | image_title_2 = | iso_code = MRU | iso_comment = before 2017: {{ISO 4217|MRO}} | iso_ref = <ref name="amendment-165">{{cite web|url=https://www.currency-iso.org/en/shared/amendments/iso-4217-amendment.html|title=ISO 4217 Amendment Number 165|work=.currency-iso.org|date=2017-12-14}}</ref> | using_countries = {{MRT}}<br />{{flagicon|Western Sahara}} ''Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic'' | inflation_rate = 2.2% | inflation_source_date = ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20260114162801/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/mauritania/ The World Factbook]'', 2019 est. | subunit_ratio_1 = {{frac|1|5}} | plural = ouguiya | subunit_name_1 = khoums | symbol = UM | frequently_used_coins = 2, 5, 10, 20 ouguiya<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcm.mr/MONNAIE/Pages/Pi%C3%A8ces.aspx |title=Pièces |access-date=2011-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719154144/http://www.bcm.mr/MONNAIE/Pages/Pi%C3%A8ces.aspx |archive-date=2011-07-19 }}</ref> | rarely_used_coins = 1 khoums, 1 ouguiya | used_banknotes = 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1.000 ouguiya | issuing_authority = Banque Centrale de Mauritanie | issuing_authority_website = {{URL|https://www.bcm.mr/}} | printer = Canadian Bank Note Company<ref name=CBNC>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcm.mr/IMG/pdf/polymere_et_caracteristiques_ar_fr.pdf |title=Introduction de billets de banque en polymère |trans-title=Introduction of polymer banknotes |date=2017-12-20 |publisher=Banque Centrale de Mauritanie |language=fr,ar |access-date=2023-01-03 |quote="Ces billets seront imprimés à la Canadian Bank Note Company, à Ottawa (Canada)./ستتم طباعتها في شركة البنكنوت الكندية في أوتاوا، كندا." |trans-quote=These notes will be printed at the Canadian Bank Note Company, in Ottawa, Canada.}}</ref> | printer_website = {{URL|https://cbnco.com/}} }}
The '''ouguiya''' ({{langx|ar|أوقية موريتانية}} ({{IPA|mey|u.ɡij.jə|IPA}}); sign: '''UM'''; code: '''MRU'''), at one time spelled "ougiya",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/240639|title=Home: Oxford English Dictionary}}</ref> is the currency of Mauritania.
Each ouguiya constitutes five khoums (meaning "one fifth"). As such it is one of two circulating currencies, along with the Malagasy ariary, whose division units are not based on a power of ten. As of May 2026, the unit is effectively obsolete since the khoums has practically no purchasing power, and the coins have fallen into disuse.
The current ouguiya was introduced in 2018, replacing the old ouguiya at a rate of 1 new ouguiya = 10 old ouguiya, which in turn replaced the CFA franc at a rate of 1 old ouguiya = 5 francs. The name ''ouguiya'' ({{lang|ar|أوقية}}) is the Hassaniya Arabic pronunciation of ''uqiyyah'' {{lang|ar|أُوقِية}}), meaning "(Roman) ounce".<ref>{{cite book |page=38|title=Latin and Arabic: entangled histories |first=Daniel G. |last=König |date=2019 |publisher=Heidelberg University Publishing |location=Heidelberg |isbn=978-3-947732-25-8 }}</ref>
=={{anchor|MRO}}First Ouguiya (MRO)== ===Coins=== In 1973, coins of {{frac|1|5}} (1 khoums), 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 ouguiya were introduced into circulation. This was the only year that the khoums was minted, as the ouguiya was worth five CFA Francs a khoums was the equivalent of the franc (which had no subdivision). The most recent issues were in 2003 (1 ouguiya) and 2004 (other denominations). Coins are minted at the Kremnica mint in Slovakia. The coinage slightly changed in 2009, with a reduced 1 ouguiya in plated composition and a bi-metallic 20 ouguiya issued. A bi-metallic 50 ouguiya was issued December 2010.
<gallery> image:Ouguiya 1.png|Obverse of 1 ouguiya coin, made of Aluminium bronze. image:Ouguiya 2.png|Reverse of 1 ouguiya coin, made of Aluminium bronze. </gallery>
===Banknotes=== In 1973, notes were issued by the Central Bank of Mauritania (''Banque Centrale de Mauritanie'') in denominations of 100, 200 and 1,000 ouguiya. In 1974, a second series of notes was issued in the same denominations, with 500-ouguiya notes added in 1979. Banknotes have been printed by Giesecke & Devrient in Munich, starting with the second issue. [[File:100 Mauritania Ouguiya observe.jpg|thumb|Obverse of 100 ouguiya note issued in 2011 with Eastern Arabic numerals. The reverse features text in French and Western Arabic numerals.]] New banknotes were introduced in 2004. These notes have completely new fronts and the vignettes on the backs have been redesigned to accommodate the reduction in size. The 2,000-ouguiya denomination is entirely new.
A new 5,000-ouguiya denomination dated 28 November 2009 was introduced on 8 August 2010, followed by a redesigned 2,000-ouguiya note dated 28 November 2011 issued on 1 February 2012.
=={{anchor|MRU}}Second ouguiya (MRU)== On 5 December 2017, the Central Bank of Mauritania announced a redenomination of its currency at a rate of 1:10. Reducing inflation and the risk of forgery were named as the main reasons behind this move. New coins and banknotes entered circulation on 1 January 2018.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= 2 January 2018 |title= New year, new currency: Mauritania's ouguiya gets a makeover |url= https://www.france24.com/en/20180102-mauritania-ouguiya-currency-markets-review-2017 |work= France24 |location= |publisher= |access-date= 6 May 2026}}</ref> As a consequence of this change, the ISO Currency Codes for the ouguiya were amended to MRU / 929.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.currency-iso.org/en/shared/amendments/iso-4217-amendment.html|title = Data Standards}}</ref>
===Coins=== As part of the redenomination, a new series of coins were issued in denominations of 1 khoums ({{frac|1|5}} ouguiya), 1, 5, 10 and 20 ouguiya, with the latter being struck as a tri-metallic coin. A 2 ouguiya coin was added on 1 February 2019, serving as an intermediate denomination for the 1 and 5 ouguiya coins already in circulation.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= 4 February 2019 |title= COMMUNIQUE : EMISSION D’UNE NOUVELLE PIÈCE DE 2 OUGUIYA |url= https://atlasinfo.info/fr/node/2688 |work= Atlasinfo |location= |publisher= |access-date= 6 May 2026}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%" |- !colspan="10"|Coins of the Mauritanian ouguiya (2017-2018 issue) |- !rowspan="2"| Image !!rowspan="2"| Value !!colspan="4"| Technical parameters !!colspan="3"| Description !!rowspan="2"| Date of first minting |- ! Diameter !! Thickness !! Mass !! Composition !! Edge !! Obverse !! Reverse |- {{Coin-copper-color}} | style="text-align:center; background:#000;"| | {{frac|1|5}} ouguiya || {{cvt|16.0|mm}} || {{cvt|2.0|mm}} || {{cvt|2.10|g}} || Copper-plated steel | Plain/Smooth || National seal of Mauritania; denomination || Fish; denomination || 2017 |- |- {{Coin-silver-color}} | style="text-align:center; background:#000;"| | 1 ouguiya || {{cvt|19.9|mm}} || {{cvt|2.0|mm}} || {{cvt|4.00|g}} || Nickel-plated steel | Reeded/grained || National seal of Mauritania; denomination || Teapot; denomination || 2017 |- |- {{Coin-silver-color}} | style="text-align:center; background:#000;"| | 2 ouguiya || {{cvt|24.0|mm}} || || {{cvt|5.65|g}} || Stainless steel | Reeded/grained || National seal of Mauritania; denomination || National instruments; denomination || 2018 |- |- {{Coin-silver-color}} | style="text-align:center; background:#000;"| | 5 ouguiya || {{cvt|22.5|mm}} || {{cvt|2.0|mm}} || {{cvt|4.71|g}} || Nickel-plated steel | Plain/smooth || National seal of Mauritania; denomination || Instruments; denomination || 2017 |- |- | style="text-align:center; background:#000;"| | 10 ouguiya || {{cvt|24.0|mm}} || {{cvt|1.8|mm}} || {{cvt|5.38|g}} || Bi-metallic coin (Nickel-plated steel center with a Brass-plated steel ring) | Segmented (alternating between 10 plain and reeded sections) || rowspan="2" | National seal of Mauritania; denomination || Cow; denomination || rowspan="2" | 2017 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#000;" | | 20 ouguiya || {{cvt|26.0|mm}} || {{cvt|2.0|mm}} || {{cvt|7.63|g}} || Tri-metallic coin (Bronze-plated steel center plug with a Nickel-plated steel inner ring and a Brass-plated steel outer ring) | Plain/smooth || Camels; denomination |- |}
===Banknotes=== As part of the redenomination, a new series of banknotes in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 ouguiya were introduced. These notes are printed entirely in polymer.
On 13 December 2021, the Central Bank of Mauritania issued a 20 ouguiya banknote, co-circulating with the coin of the same denomination in circulation.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= 14 December 2021 |title= La banque centrale de Mauritanie émet un nouveau billet de 20 um MRU |url= https://ami.mr/fr/Depeche-61802.html |work= Agence Mauritanienne d’information (AMI) |location= |publisher= |access-date= 5 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= |title= Banque Centrale de Mauritanie: Launch of 20 Ouguiya Guardian™ Polymer Banknote |url= https://currencyaffairs.org/document/launch-of-20-ouguiya-guardian-polymer-banknote/ |work= International Association of Currency Affairs (IACA) |location= |publisher= |access-date= 5 May 2026}}</ref>
In June 2023, the Central Bank of Mauritania issued a new 50 ouguiya banknote in celebration of 50 years of the circulation of the ouguiya in Mauritania, co-circulating with the previous banknote of the same denomination.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/48085 |title=البنك المركزي يعلن إصدار ورقة جديدة من فئة 50 أوقية |trans-title=The Central Bank announces the issuance of a new 50 ouguiya banknote |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=2023-06-18 |access-date=2023-06-19}}</ref> This banknote was issued in three different varieties, each with a slightly different material composition. The different varieties are distinguishable by the first letter of their serial number (A, B or C). The Central Bank of Mauritania stated that this was intended as an experiment to assess which composition would be best suited to Mauritanias climate and the public.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= 7 June 2023 |title= BCM : circulation de trois substrats de billet de banque de 50 sur fond de test du substrat le plus résistant et adapté au climat du pays |url= https://atlasinfo.info/fr/node/4171 |work= Atlasinfo |location= |publisher= |access-date= 5 May 2026}}</ref> On 22 July 2025 a new 50 ouguiya banknote (serial number starting with "D" and slight design updates) was issued with the composition that turned out to be most suitable.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= 22 July 2025 |title= La Banque Centrale dévoile un nouveau billet de 50 MRU |url= https://trustmag.net/article/4552 |work= MagazineTrust |location= |publisher= |access-date= 5 May 2026}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%" |+Banknotes of the MRU |- !colspan="2"| Image !!rowspan="2"| Value !!rowspan="2"| Dimensions !!colspan="3"| Description !!colspan="4"| Date of |- ! Obverse !! Reverse !! Obverse !! Reverse !! Watermark !! printing !! issue !! withdrawal !! lapse |- |- | | | 20 ouguiya | 133 × 60 mm | Grand Mosque of Gataga in Kaédi | Guelb er Richât |rowspan="7"| (none) | 28 November 2020 | 13 December 2021 |rowspan="7" colspan="2"| Current |- | | | 50 ouguiya |rowspan="2"| 130 × 66 mm | Ibn Abass Mosque in Nouakchott |rowspan="2"| Musical instruments and teapot | 28 November 2017 | 1 January 2018 |- | | | 50 ouguiya | Building of the Central Bank of Mauritania and Ibn Abass Mosque |colspan="2"| 18 June 2023 |- | | | 100 ouguiya | 135 × 66 mm | Oualata Mosque | Cattle | 28 November 2017,<br>28 November 2020 |rowspan="4"| 1 January 2018 |- | | | 200 ouguiya | 140 × 66 mm | Ouadane Mosque | Camels | 28 November 2017 |- | | | 500 ouguiya | 145 × 66 mm | Tichit Mosque | Trawler; fish | 28 November 2017,<br>28 November 2020 |- | | |1.000 ouguiya |150 × 66 mm |Chinguetti Mosque |Locomotive of an ore train |28 November 2017 |- |colspan="11"|{{Standard banknote table notice|standard_scale=Y|BrE=Y}} |}
===Exchange rates=== {{Exchange rate|MRU}}
==See also== * Economy of Mauritania
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Economy of Mauritania}} {{Currencies of Africa}} {{Mauritania topics}} {{Portal bar|Africa|Mauritania|Money|Numismatics}}
Category:Circulating currencies Category:Currencies introduced in 1973 Category:Economy of Mauritania Category:Currencies of Africa