The Dinar is the name of a number of currencies, mainly in the Arab world. It is derived from the Latin word ‘Denarius’ which was the name of an ancient Roman coin.
Many ancient Islamic nations used a form of Dinar, with the most famous being the Gold Dinar used by the Umayyad Empire in the 600’s. In recent history, the most notable Dinar was used in Yugoslavia from 1965 until its dissolution.
At present, nine current countries use a form of Dinar. They’re listed below.
🇩🇿 Algerian Dinar (DZD)
Algeria has used the Dinar since 1964 when it replaced the Algerian New Franc, a colonial currency linked to France and pegged to the French Franc.
The currency is subdivided into 100 centimes, however these are now defunct given Algeria’s high-rates of inflation. Rents in the capital can be over 60,000DA a month.
The currency uses the symbol دج or DA.
🇧🇭 Bahraini Dinar (BHD)
The Bahraini Dinar is one of the world’s highest value currencies.
It has been the currency of the Kingdom of Bahrain since 1965, when it replaced the British colonial currency, the Gulf Rupee.
It is divided into 1000 fils. It was also used for a number of years in Abu Dhabi.
The currency uses the symbol .د.ب or BD.
🇮🇶 Iraqi Dinar (IQD)
Given the turbulent nature of Iraq’s history, the country has had several currencies.
Since the 1930’s, when Iraq gained its modern independence, all have had the name Dinar .
The currency is divided into 1,000 fils, however these have been defunct since 1990 given rampant inflation.
The Dinar has been devaluaed a number of times during its history. It uses the symbol د.ع or ID.
🇯🇴 Jordanian Dinar (JOD)
The Jordanian Dinar was introduced in 1949, a couple of years after the Kingdom of Jordan was established. For the preceeding couple of years it used the Palestinian Pound.
The currency is one of the world’s strongest owing to the countries domestic stability and large natural resources.
One Jordanian Dinar is subdivided into 10 dirhams, 100 qirsh and 1000 fuls.
It uses the symbol د.أ and is widely used nowadays in the Palestinian Territories as an alternative to the Israeli Shekel.
🇰🇼 Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD)
The Kuwaiti Dinar regularly tops the list of the world’s most valuable currencies. Most of the time 1KD is worth over $3.
Like several other countries in the region, Kuwait introduced the Dinar in 1961 to replace the Gulf Rupee following Britain’s decolonisation.
The currency is subdivided into 1,000 fils and interestingly 5 fils coins are still minted and in general circulation.
The symbols used are د.ك or KD.
🇱🇾 Libyan Dinar (LYD)
The Libyan Dinar was introduced in 1971 to replace the Libyan Pound, a currency linked to the Pound Sterling.
Despite popular belief, the currency was introduced several years before the revolution of Colonel Gadaffi.
Due to domestic economic and political turmoil, the currency has been devalued several times.
It is subdivided into 1,000 dirhams and uses the symbols ل.د or LD.
🇲🇰 Macedonian Denar (MKD)
North Macedonia, or as it was previously known FYORM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) introduced their own currency in 1992 following their declaration of independence from Yugoslavia.
Initially it was at par, however after a couple of years, the country moved away from the Yugoslav Dinar and set its own course.
The Denar is subdivided into 100 deni and uses the symbols DEN or ден.
🇷🇸 Serbian Dinar (RSD)
The first use of a Dinar in Serbia was actually in medieval times, however, in its current form, it’s only been in use since 2003.
In 2003, after years of fragmentation, the titan of Central Europe, Yugoslavia finally ceased to exist. It was replaced by the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro (i.e. modern-day Serbia). The former currency, the Yugoslav Dinar was replaced by the Serbian Dinar at par.
Initially, the currency had the code CSD however following Montenegro’s declaration of independence and unofficial adoption of the Euro, the currency took its current code RSD.
The Serbian Dinar is subdivided into 100 para, however, these are now defunct. Its banknotes range from 10 to 5000.
🇹🇳 Tunisian Dinar (TND)
Tunisia introduced the Dinar in 1960. It replaced the previous currency the Tunisian Franc, which was pegged at par to the French Franc.
Interestingly, before French colonisation, Tunisia had a currency called the Rial.
The Tunisian Dinar is sub-divided into 1000 milim. The currency is closed and is not allowed to be taken out of the country.
Despite having been the currency for over half a century, sometimes people still refer to it commonly as a ‘frank.’
