Бахрейн динары: тарихы мен айналымы

Currency of Bahrain

The dinar ( دينار بحريني Dīnār Baḥrēnī) (sign: .د.ب or BD; code: BHD) is the currency of Bahrain. It is divided into 1000 fils (فلس). The Bahraini dinar is abbreviated د.ب (Arabic) or BD (Latin). It is usually represented with three decimal places denoting the fils. The name dinar derives from the Roman denarius. As of December 2021, the Bahraini dinar is the second highest valued currency unit, at 2.65 United States dollars per unit (the highest valued unit is the Kuwaiti dinar at $3.32).

The Bahraini dinar was introduced in 1965, replacing the Gulf rupee at a rate of 10 rupees = 1 dinar. It was initially equivalent to 3/4 of a pound sterling (15 shillings). When sterling was devalued in 1967, the dinar was repegged to 17s. 6d. sterling (7/8 of a pound). Bahraini coins and notes were introduced at that time. Initially, Abu Dhabi adopted the Bahraini dinar but changed to the dirham in 1973, with 1 dirham = 100 fils = 0.100 dinar.

In December 1980, the dinar was officially pegged to the IMF's special drawing rights (SDRs). In practice, it is fixed at $1 USD = 0.376 BHD, which translates to approximately 1 BHD = US$2.65957 and, consequently, just over 9.9734 Saudi Arabian riyals. This rate was made official in 2001 and Saudi riyals are accepted at all points of sale in Bahrain at 10 to 1, with the exception of the Saudi 500 riyal note which is only accepted in major supermarkets, airports and electronic shops. Before Malta's adoption of the euro on 1 January 2008, it was the third highest valued currency unit after the Kuwaiti dinar and Maltese lira. After Malta adopted the euro, the dinar became the second highest valued currency unit.

In 1965, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 fils. The 1, 5 and 10 fils were struck in bronze, with the others in cupro nickel. The 1 fils coin was not produced after 1966 and no longer circulates. A bimetallic 100 fils coin was introduced in October 1992. In 1992, brass replaced bronze in the 5 and 10 fils. A bimetallic 500 fils coin was released in 2000 with the Pearl Monument on the obverse. The coin was discontinued in response to the uprising in Bahrain, which resulted in the demolition of the monument on 18 March 2011, although the Bank stated that minting had ceased some time prior to that. The coin remained in use but was no longer released back into circulation after reaching banks. Coins of the Bahraini dinar Image Value Diameter Weight Composition Obverse Reverse First Minted Year 1 fils 15 mm 1.5 g Bronze Palm tree Value 1965 5 fils 18.5 mm 2 g Bronze Palm tree Value 1965 style="text align:center;" 10 fils 23.5 mm 4.75 g Bronze Palm tree Value 1965 25 fils 16.5 mm 1.75 g Cupro nickel Palm tree Value 1965 50 fils 20 mm 3.1 g Cupro nickel Palm tree Value 1965 100 fils 25 mm 6.5 g Cupro nickel Palm tree Value 1965 5 fils 19 mm 2.50 g Brass Palm tree Value 1992 10 fils 21 mm 3.35 g Brass Palm tree Value 1992 25 fils 20 mm 3.5 g Cupro nickel Dilmo Civilization seal Value 1992 50 fils 22 mm 4.5 g Cupro nickel Dhow (Bahraini boat) Value 1992 100 fils 24 mm 6 g Brass ring, cupro nickel centre Coat of Arms Value 1992

For a wider history surrounding currency in the region, see British currency in the Middle East.