Coinage of Tunisia since independence

[<k>]

Map of Tunisia.




Map of North Africa.

From Wikipedia:

The Republic of Tunisia is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a part of the Maghreb region of North Africa, bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. It features the archaeological sites of Carthage dating back to the 9th century BC. Known for its ancient architecture, souks and blue coasts, it covers 163,610 km2 (63,170 sq. miles), and has a population of 12.1 million. It contains the eastern end of the Atlas Mountains and the northern reaches of the Sahara desert. Much of its remaining territory is arable land. Its 1,300 km (810 miles) of coastline include the African conjunction of the western and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Basin. Tunisia is home to Africa's northernmost point, Cape Angela. Its capital and largest city is Tunis, which is located on its northeastern coast and lends the country its name.

Beginning in early antiquity, Tunisia was inhabited by the indigenous Berbers. Phoenicians began to arrive in the 12th century BC, establishing several settlements, of which Carthage emerged as the most powerful by the 7th century BC. Carthage was a major mercantile empire and a military rival to the Roman Republic until 146 BC, when it was defeated by the Romans who occupied Tunisia for most of the next 800 years. The Romans introduced Christianity and left architectural legacies like the Amphitheatre of El Jem.

In the 7th century AD Arab Muslims conquered all of Tunisia and brought Islam and Arab culture to the local inhabitants. Arabs then became the majority of the population. In 1546 the Ottoman Empire established control there, holding sway for over 300 years, until 1881, when the French conquered Tunisia. In 1956 Tunisia gained independence as the Tunisian Republic under the leadership of Habib Bourguiba.

The official language of Tunisia is Modern Standard Arabic. The vast majority of Tunisia's population is Arab and Muslim. Vernacular Tunisian Arabic is the most spoken, and French also serves as an administrative and educational language in some contexts, but it has no official status.

Tunisia is one of the few countries in Africa ranking high in the Human Development Index, with one of the highest per capita incomes on the continent, ranking 129th in GDP per capita income. Tunisia also is well integrated into the international community. It is a member of the United Nations, La Francophonie, the Arab League, the OIC, the African Union, the COMESA, the Non-Aligned Movement, the International Criminal Court, and the Group of 77, among others. It maintains close economic and political relations with some European countries, particularly with France and Italy, due to their geographical proximity. Tunisia also has an association agreement with the European Union and has attained the status of a major non-NATO ally of the United States.

[<k>]

Flag of Tunisia.

The crescent and the star are depicted on the flag of Tunisia.

They are traditional symbols of Islam and are also considered symbols of good luck.

The red colour represents the martyrdom of the Tunisians who fought for their country, while the white represents peace.

[<k>]

Tunisian coat of arms.

From Wikipedia:

The coat of arms of Tunisia displays a Carthaginian galley (symbol of freedom) along with a lion holding a sword (symbol of order), and a weighing scale (symbol of justice). In the centre, just under the ship, is the national motto written in Arabic: Freedom (حرية) - Order (نظام) - Justice (عدالة). The central emblem of the national flag is seen above the shield. The background is gold in all sections.

[<k>]

INTRODUCTION OF THE DINAR

The dinar was introduced in 1960, having been established as a unit of account in 1958. It replaced the franc at a rate of 1000 francs = 1 dinar.

Aluminium 1, 2 and 5 millime and brass 10, 20, 50 and 100 millime coins were issued in 1960. The 1 and 2 millimes were last issued in 1990 and 1983 respectively, and are no longer legal tender.

[<k>]

Tunisia, 1, 2 and 5 millime coins.

The 1, 2 and 5 millime coins were made of aluminium.

Their common obverse featured a cork oak tree (Quercus suber).

The Arabic legend translates as "Central Bank of Tunisia".


The denomination appeared on the reverse, flanked by olive sprigs.

The Arabic legend gives the denominations in words.

From 1997 onward, the year was shown in the Western and Islamic versions.

[<k>]

Tunisia, 10, 20, 50 and 100 millime coins.

Also in 1960, brass coins in denominations of 10, 20, 50 and 100 millimes were issued.

They shared common arabesque motifs on the obverse and reverse.


In 2017 a bronze 200 millimes bronze coin was added to this tier.

It shared the common arabesque motifs of the other millime coins.

The coin was tridecagonal (13-sided).

[<k>]

Tunisia, ½ dinar, 1968.

In 1968 a nickel half dinar coin was added to the coinage.

This coin was a one year type only.


The obverse featured a portrait of President Bourguiba.

The portrait designer was Raymond Corbin, a Frenchman.


The obverse legend translates as:

"Habib Bourguiba  President of the Tunisian Republic".


The reverse featured the denomination.

The legend translates as "Central Bank of Tunisia  ½ dinar".

[<k>]

Habib Bourguiba.

From Wikpedia:

Habib Bourguiba (1903 – 2000) was a Tunisian lawyer, nationalist leader and statesman who led the country from 1956 to 1957 as the prime minister of the Kingdom of Tunisia (1956–1957) then as the first president of Tunisia (1957–1987). Prior to his presidency, he led the nation to independence from France, ending the 75-year-old protectorate and earning the title of "Supreme Combatant".

Born in Monastir to a poor family, he attended Sadiki College then Lycée Carnot in Tunis, before obtaining his baccalaureate in 1924. He graduated from the University of Paris and the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) in 1927 and returned to Tunis to practice law. In the early 1930s, he became involved in anti-colonial and Tunisian national politics, joining the Destour party and co-founding the Neo Destour in 1934. He rose as a key figure of the independence movement and was repeatedly arrested by the colonial administration. His involvement in the riots of 9 April 1938 resulted in his exile to Marseille during World War II.

In 1945, Bourguiba was released and moved to Cairo, Egypt, to seek the support of the Arab League. He returned to the country in 1949 and rose to prominence as the leader of the national movement. Although initially committed to peaceful negotiations with the French government, he had an effective role in the armed unrest that started in 1952 when they proved to be unsuccessful. He was arrested and imprisoned on La Galite Island for two years, before being exiled in France. There, he led negotiations with Prime minister Pierre Mendès France and obtained internal autonomy agreements in exchange for the end of the unrest. Bourguiba returned victorious to Tunis on 1 June 1955, but was challenged by Salah Ben Youssef in the party leadership. Ben Youssef and his supporters disagreed with Bourguiba's "soft" policies and demanded full independence of the Maghreb. This resulted in a civil war that opposed Bourguibists, who favored a stepwise policy and modernism, and Youssefists, the conservative Arab nationalist supporters of Ben Youssef. The conflict ended with the Sfax Congress of 1955 in favor of Bourguiba.

Following the country's independence in 1956, Bourguiba was appointed prime minister by king Muhammad VIII al-Amin and acted as de facto ruler before proclaiming the Republic, on 25 July 1957. He was elected interim President of Tunisia by parliament until the ratification of the Constitution. During his rule, he implemented a strong education system, worked on developing the economy, supported gender equality and proclaimed a neutral foreign policy, making him an exception among Arab leaders. The main reform that was passed was the Code of Personal Status which settled a modern society. He set a strong presidential system which turned to be a twenty-year one-party state dominated by his own, the Socialist Destourian Party. A cult of personality also developed around him, before he proclaimed himself president for life in 1975, during his fourth 5-year term.

[<k>]

Tunisia, ½ dinar, 1976.

In 1976 a new half dinar type was issued.

Also in 1976, a 1 dinar coin was issued for the first time.


Both coins were made of copper-nickel.

They shared a common obverse.

It featured a new portrait of President Bourguiba.

[<k>]

Tunisia, ½ dinar, 1976.

The reverse of the half dinar coin featured a FAO-themed design.

F.A.O. stands for Food and Agricultural Organization (a United Nations body).


The design features two hands holding three oranges and a wheat sprig

This design has appeared on the reverse of the half dinar coin ever since.

It has been retained even when the obverse design was changed.

See also:  Nurturing hands.

[<k>]

Tunisia, 1 dinar, 2020.

Here you see the reverse of the 1 dinar coin.

It features a woman picking olives.

A wheat, a tractor and a palm tree appear in the background.


This version of the 1 dinar coin was first issued in 1976.

This design has appeared on its reverse ever since.

It has been retained even when the obverse design was changed.

"ELMEKKI" was the name of the designer.

[<k>]

THE END OF PRESIDENT BOURGUIBA'S RULE.

From Wikipedia:

The end of President Bourguiba's 30-year rule was marked by his declining health, a war of succession, and the rise of clientelism and Islamism. On 7 November 1987 he was removed from power by his prime minister, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. He was then kept under house arrest in a residence in Monastir. He remained there until his death in April 2000. He was buried in a mausoleum that he had previously built.

[<k>]

Tunisia, 1 dinar, 1990.

The portrait of ex-President Bourguiba now disappeared from the coinage.

A new half dinar and dinar coin were issued in 1988.

They were issued again in 1990.


Their new common obverse showed a map of Tunisia.

The legend translates as "Republic of Tunisia".


The coins were of the same shape, size and metal content as before.

They also retained the same reverse designs.

[<k>]

Tunisia, 1 dinar, 2007.

A new half dinar and dinar coin were issued in 1996.

Their new common obverse showed the coat of arms of Tunisia.

To date, the obverse design of the two coins remains the same.

The obverse legend translates as "Republic of Tunisia".


The coins were of the same shape, size and metal content as before.

They also retained the same reverse designs.


See also:  Ships and boats on coats of arms .

[<k>]

Tunisia, 5 dinars, 2002.

In 2002 Tunisia issued its first circulation 5 dinars coin.

It weighed 10 grams and had a diameter of 29 mm.


It was also Tunisia's first bimetallic coin.

It had a copper-nickel centre within a brass ring.


The obverse showed the coat of arms.

The reverse featured the familiar portrait of Habib Bourguiba.

It showed his birth and death years: 1903 and 2000.

In death, he had been rehabilitated.