The Moroccan Banknote

Makhzani Rial

In the aftermath of a financial and monetary crisis, Morocco requested foreign financial support. An international conference was, therefore, organized in Algeciras and led to the creation of the State Bank of Morocco “Banque d’Etat Du Maroc”. (Lien vers Espace Banque à2.3.1 Les origines de Bank Al-Maghrib). The main missions of the latter were  rehabilitating the monetary situation of Morocco and issuing currency.

In December 2, 1911, the first banknotes of 20 Rials value were put into circulation.

4 silver Makhzani Rials, type 1917, French printing, first introduced on February 31, 1917, size: 164×95 mm.

Moroccan Franc banknotes

In 1914, the scarcity of silver coins and the rise of the value of the Hassani led to a sharp monetary crisis, which continued until the end of the First World War, leading to the demonetization of the Hassani and the creation of the Franc.

The Moroccan Franc banknotes issued by the State Bank were put into circulation as of November 15, 1920. They include banknotes of 5, 20, 50 and 100 Francs.

Those of 10 and 1000 francs were issued in 1921, and those of 500 Francs in 1922. From this date on, French and Algerian banknotes were no longer legal tender in Morocco. Moroccan Franc evolved from that time within the Franc area, until in the decoupling carried out on December 28, 1958 by the independent Government of Morocco.

5 Francs, on 14-11-41, French printing, without the mark “Payable on demand to bearer”.

Dirham banknotes

After the independence, the State recovered the privilege of issuing money which was devolved upon a national institute, the Bank of Morocco, established on July 1, 1959. In the same year, a new currency, i.e the Dirham, was adopted. A series of banknotes of 5 and 10 dirhams was issued.

In 1965, a 50-dirham banknote bearing the effigy of the Late King His Majesty Hassan II was issued, followed a by a series of coins of 5 dirhams, 1 dirham, and 50, 10, 5 and 1 cents.

The printing of banknotes as well as the striking of these coins was carried out by internationally-renowned institutions, until 1987, when Dar As-Sikkah, the Mint, () was set up.

10 Dirhams, 1960 type, Size: 150×80 mm; colors: multicolor

10 dirhams, 1970 type. Printing: Thomas de la Rue and Company. Size: 145×72.5mm. colours: brown- red.

10 dirhams,1987 type. Size: 143×70 mm. Predominant Colour: red