The dinar is the currency of Tunisia. It is subdivided into 1000 milim or millimes (مليم).

The abbreviation DT is often used in Tunisia, although writing "dinar" after the amount is also acceptable (TND is less colloquial, and tends to be used more in financial circles). The abbreviation TD is also mentioned in a few places, but is less frequently used, given the common use of the French language in Tunisia, and the French derivation of DT (Dinar tunisien).

Summary info

Summary information about Tunisian dinar

ISO 4217 Code:

TND

Currency sign:

د.ت (Arabic) or DT (Latin)

Country:

Tunisia

Subunit:

milim

Coins:

20 milim, 50 milim, 100 milim, 0.5 dinar, 1 dinar, 5 dinar

Banknotes:

5 dinar, 10 dinar, 20 dinar, 30 dinar, 50 dinar

Central bank:

Central Bank of Tunisia

History

The Tunisian coast was colonized by Phoenician traders in ancient times, and the city of Carthage became the center of a great maritime empire. The first Carthaginian coins were issued in the late fifth century BC and were modeled after silver tetradrachms. Carthage later issued coins of gold and electrum.

Carthage was destroyed by Rome in 146 BC. The area became part of the Roman province of Africa and Roman denarii became the principal coins. The Vandals ruled Carthage from 439 to 534 and issued small silver coins imitating those of Rome. Byzantium ruled Carthage from 534 until 698 and a large number of gold, silver and copper coins were issued under the Byzantines.

Islamic armies conquered Tunisia in the seventh century and Islamic coins were being issued by 698. At first, these coins imitated Byzantine coins, but by 715 they had become purely inscriptional. There was little change in the coins minted under the Aghlabids in the ninth century, the Fatimids in the tenth century and the Zirids in the eleventh century. The Al-Muwahhidun produced broad, thin gold coins slightly different from their predecessors and the Hafsid, who succeeded them in 1252 produced similar coins.

Tunis was a battleground between the Ottomans and Europeans between 1534 and 1574 when the Ottomans finally made Tunisia a province of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans issued gold, base-silver and bronze coins with Turkish designs for the next 300 years. The Tunisian Regency was set up on July 15, 1705. Under the Ottoman Empire, the Piastre existed as both a Unit of Account (TNA) and as specie money (TNP). The Piastre was divisible into 16 Kharub, 40 paras or 52 Aspers. Burbe (13 Burbe equal to 1 Kharub) and Bourbon (6 Bourbon equal to 1 Burbe) were further subsidiary coinage.

Tunisia became a French protectorate by treaty on May 12, 1881. The French protectorate was terminated, and Tunisia became independent on March 20, 1956.

The Ottoman monetary system was used until July 1, 1891 when the Decree of Bey made the Franc the official monetary unit of Tunisia. The French Franc had been introduced in Tunisia in 1881. Franc banknotes were issued by the Banque de l.Algerie (with a "Tunisie" overprint, and by the Banque de l'Algerie et de la Tunisie from January 12, 1949) for circulation in Tunisia. Tunisia was part of the Allied monetary zone from June 1943 until December 6, 1944, with 1 Pound Sterling equal to 4 US Dollars or 200 Tunisian Francs.

The Tunisian Dinar (TND) replaced the Tunisian Franc on November 1, 1958 with 1 Dinar equal to 1000 French Francs. The Franc was divisible into 100 Centimes until 1958 and 1000 Millimes since then. The Banque Centrale de Tunisie is the sole banknote issuing authority.

Coins

In 1960, aluminium 1, 2 and 5 milim and brass 10, 20, 50 and 100 milim coins were introduced. The 1 and 2 milim were last issued in 1980 and 1983 respectively, and are no longer legal tender.

In 1968, nickel ½ dinar coins were introduced, replaced by smaller, cupro-nickel pieces in 1976, when cupro-nickel 1 dinar coins were also introduced. Bimetallic 5 dinar coins were introduced in 2002.

Banknotes

In 1960, banknotes were introduced by the Central Bank of Tunisia in denominations of ½, 1 and 5 dinar. These were followed by 10 dinar notes in 1969. The last ½ dinar notes were dated 1973 whilst the last 1 dinar notes were dated 1980. 20 dinar notes were introduced in 1980, with the last 5 dinar notes dated 1993. 30 dinar notes were issued in 1997. 50 dinar notes were issued on July 25, 2009. In 2006 an updated version of the frequently used 10 dinar note, with holographic foil, was issued.

It is a criminal offence in Tunisia to import or export dinar. Every year, each citizen can convert into foreign currency up to 6,000 Tunisian dinars before departure from the country. Therefore, prices at duty-free shops are in convertible currencies such as euros, US dollars and British pounds. There are many converting ATMs in the country for tourists. It is necessary for anyone leaving Tunisia to declare any cash in their possession exceeding the equivalent of UK£500 beforehand.

TND banknotes pictures gallery

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Useful links

About Central Bank of Tunisia:

Central Bank of Tunisia

List of currencies:

Currencies

Security and design features of TND banknotes:

TND banknotes

TND currency on Wikipedia:

Tunisian dinar

Official Website of Central Bank of Tunisia:

www.bct.gov.tn

Commemorative coins:

Commemorative Coins