Coinage of Timor-Leste

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Map of Timor-Leste.

Timor-Leste (East Timor) and its neighbours.

From Wikipedia:

East Timor or Timor-Leste, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a country in South-East Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island surrounded by Indonesian West Timor. Australia is the country's southern neighbour, separated by the Timor Sea. The country's size is about 15,410 km2 (5,400 sq mi). It has a population of 1,167,000. East Timor's two official languages are Portuguese and Tetum. English and Indonesian are sometimes used.

East Timor was colonised by Portugal in the 16th century and was known as Portuguese Timor until 28 November 1975, when the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (Fretilin) declared the territory's independence. Nine days later, it was invaded and occupied by Indonesia. It was declared Indonesia's 27th province the following year. The Indonesian occupation of East Timor was characterised by a highly violent, decades-long conflict between separatist groups (especially Fretilin) and the Indonesian military.

In 1999, following the United Nations-sponsored act of self-determination, Indonesia relinquished control of the territory. East Timor became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century on 20 May 2002 and joined the United Nations and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.

East Timor is part of a free trade zone, the Timor-Leste–Indonesia–Australia Growth Triangle (TIA-GT). It is one of only two predominantly Christian nations in Southeast Asia, the other being the Philippines.

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Coat of arms of Timor-Leste.

From Wikipedia:

In the centre of the coat of arms is a curved pyramid with red edges and a black core, symbolising Mount Ramelau, the highest peak in Timor Leste. On the black field in the centre there is a five-pointed star with five rays of light. Under it there is an open red book resting upon a yellow industrial gear. On the left side there is a rice ear (hare fulin) and on the right side there is a corn ear (batar fulin). Under the industrial gear there is an AK-47 assault rifle, bow and arrows (rama inan). Under Mount Ramelau there is a ribbon banner written in Portuguese: "Unidade, Acção, Progresso" ("Union, Action, Progress"). Around the emblem there is a circle band inscribed with the official name of the state in Portuguese: "República Democrática de Timor-Leste" (Democratic Republic of East Timor), and the acronym is shown underneath as "RDTL".

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Flag of Timor-Leste.

From Wikipedia:

The flag of East Timor was adopted in 2002. It is the same as the flag that was originally adopted when the country declared its independence from Portugal in 1975, nine days before being invaded by Indonesia. At midnight on 19 May 2002, and during the first moments of Independence Day the next day, the United Nations flag was lowered and the flag of an independent East Timor was raised.

According to the Constitution of East Timor, the yellow  triangle represents "the traces of colonialism in East Timor's history". The black triangle represents "the obscurantism that needs to be overcome"; the red base of the flag represents "the struggle for national liberation"; the star, or "the light that guides", is white to represent peace.

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INTRODUCTION OF THE COINAGE OF TIMOR LESTE

From Wikipedia:

East Timor centavo coins were introduced in East Timor in 2003 for use alongside United States dollar banknotes and coins, which had been introduced in 2000 to replace the Indonesian rupiah following the commencement of U.N. administration. One centavo is equal to one US cent. Coins issued for general circulation are in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 centavos and feature images of local plants and animals. East Timor does not yet issue its own banknotes.

The coins are minted in Lisbon by the Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda, the Portuguese national mint. Unlike coins issued for the Panamanian balboa or the Ecuadorian centavo, these coins are not identical in size to their U.S. cent counterparts.

Timor-Leste is considered a dollarised country, because it does not issue its own banknotes.

See also: There are only four basic currency systems in the world.


In 2010 a couple who worked in East Timor told me that at first US bills and coins circulated, then the Timorese introduced their own coins.

The US coins no longer circulate, and of the Timorese coins, the one centavo coin is now rarely seen.

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A Kaibauk.

The reverse of the coins shows the denomination above a kaibauk.

It is one of the symbols of power traditionally used by Timorese people.

It represents the moon.

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Timor Leste, 1 centavo, 2003.

The obverse of the 1 centavo coin features a Nautilus pompilius.

That is a mollusc of the cephalopod family.

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Rice is one of the national staple foods.



The 5 centavos features rice.

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The 10 centavos coin features a fighting cock.

The cockerel is a reference to the main recreational activity and social interaction of the Timorese.

It is a tribute to those who fought for the liberation of the country.

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Timor Leste, 25 centavos, 2004.

The 25 centavos coin features a beiro.

That is a traditional fishing boat.

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Coffee represents the main export of Timor-Leste.



The 50 centavos coin features a coffee plant.

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Here you see how the coins look together.

The image includes an addition to the set, the 100 centavos, which I shall explain below.

The designer of the original coins was José Bandeira.

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Timor Leste, 100 centavos, 2012.

In 2012 a bimetallic 100 centavos coin was issued.

It featured Boaventura de Manufahi.

He was a national Timorese hero who fought the Portuguese rulers.

See also: Coins with units expressed as sub-units.

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Timor Leste, 200 centavos, 2017.

In 2017 Timor-Leste issued a 200 centavos coin, equal in value to two US dollars.

The coin features a buffalo in a rice paddy, with Mount Matebian in the background.

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Portuguese Timor, 6 escudos, 1958.

The Timorese coat of arms under Portuguese rule.

See also:  Portuguese Empire: Coats of Arms of the 20th Century.