Omani rial

Omani rial

ريال عماني Template:Ar icon
ISO 4217
Code	OMR (numeric: 512)
Subunit	0.001
Unit
Symbol	ر.ع.‎
Denominations
Subunit
1/1000	baisa
Banknotes	100, 200 baisa, ½, 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 rials
Coins	5, 10, 25, 50 baisa
Demographics
User(s)	Oman
Issuance
Central bank	Central Bank of Oman
Website	www.cbo-Oman.org
Valuation
Inflation	2%
Source	The World Factbook, 2006 est.
Pegged with	rial = 2.6008 U.S. dollars

The rial (Arabic: ريال, ISO 4217 code OMR) is the currency of Oman. It is divided into 1000 baisa (also written baiza, Arabic: بيسة).

History

Before 1940, the Indian rupee and the Maria Theresa Thaler (known locally as the rial) were the main currencies circulating in Muscat and Oman, as the state was then known, with rupees circulating on the coast and Thaler in the interior. Maria Theresa Thaler were valued at 230 paisa, with 64 paisa equal to the rupee.[1]

In 1940, coins were introduced for use in Dhofar, followed, in 1946, by coins for use in Oman. Both coinages were denominated in baisa (equivalent to the paisa), with 200 baisa to the rial. The Indian rupee and, from 1959, the Gulf rupee continued to circulate.

In 1970, the rial Saidi (not to be confused with Saudi riyal) was made the currency of Oman. It was equal to the British pound and replaced the Gulf rupee at a rate of approximately 21 rupees to the rial. The new rial was subdivided into 1000 baisa. The rial Omani replaced the rial Saidi at par in 1973. The currency name was altered due to the regime change in 1970 and the subsequent change of the country's name.

For a wider history surrounding currency in the region, see The History of British Currency in the Middle East.

Coins

In the 1890s, coins for 1⁄12 and ¼ anna (⅓ and 1 paisa) were minted specifically for use in Muscat and Oman.

In 1940, coins were issued for use in Dhofar in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 baisa. ½ rial coins were added in 1948, followed by 3 baisa in 1959. In 1946, 2, 5 and 20 baisa coins were introduced for use in Oman. These were followed, between 1959 and 1960, by 3 baisa, ½ and 1 rial coins.

In 1970, a coinage for all of Muscat and Oman was introduced. Denominations were 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 baisa. In 1975, new coins were issued with the country's name given as Oman. ¼ and ½ rial coins were introduced in 1980. Coins currently circulating are[2]

• 5 baisa
• 10 baisa
• 25 baisa
• 50 baisa

100 baisa, ¼ rial Omani, and ½ rial Omani coins made of non-precious metal were also issued in the 1980s.

Banknotes

In 1970, banknotes were introduced by the government in denominations of 100 baiza, ¼, ½, 1, 5 and 10 rial saidi. These were followed in 1973 by notes for 100 baiza, ¼, ½, 1, 5 and 10 Omani rials issued by the Oman Currency Board. From 1977, the Central Bank of Oman has issued notes, with 20 and 50 rial notes introduced that, followed by 200 baisa notes in 1985. Notes currently circulating are:

1970 Series
Image		Value	Main Colour	Description
Obverse	Reverse			Obverse	Reverse
		100 baisa	Green	Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said
		200 baisa	Blueish-Green	Sultan Qaboos ibn Said Al Said
		½ rial	Brownish-purple	Sultan Qaboos ibn Said Al Said
		1 rial	Purple	Sultan Qaboos ibn Said Al Said
		5 rial	Red	Sultan Qaboos ibn Said Al Said
[[Image:|100px]]	[[Image:|100px]]	10 rial	Brown	Sultan Qaboos ibn Said Al Said
[[Image:|100px]]	[[Image:|100px]]	20 rial	Green	Sultan Qaboos ibn Said Al Said
[[Image:|100px]]	[[Image:|100px]]	50 rial		Sultan Qaboos ibn Said Al Said

A new 1 rial note is now in circulation alongside the 1970 note which is still accepted. The new 1 rial note is red, similar to the 5 rial note.

Although the 100 baisa and 20 rial notes are both green, the former is considerably smaller, and thus the two are easily distinguishable.

Fixed exchange rate

From 1973 to 1986, the rial was pegged to U.S. dollar at 1 rial = 2.895 dollars. In 1986, the rate was changed to 1 rial = 2.6008 dollars, which translates to approximately 1 dollar = 0.384497 rial. The Central Bank buys U.S. dollars at 0.384 rial, and sell U.S. dollars at 0.385 rial. Before Malta's adoption of the euro on 1 January 2008, it was the fourth highest-valued currency unit after the Kuwaiti dinar, Maltese lira, and the Bahraini dinar. Now it is the third highest.

Current OMR exchange rates
From Google Finance:	AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD CNY KRW
From Yahoo! Finance:	AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD CNY KRW
From XE.com:	AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD CNY KRW
From OANDA:	AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD CNY KRW

Note: Rates obtained from these websites may contradict with pegged rate mentioned above

See also

• Gulf Rupee
• Economy of Oman
• Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf

External links

• Information on Omani currency
• Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Coins used in Oman

Preceded by: Gulf rupee Ratio: 1 rial = approximately 21 rupees = 1 British pound

Currency of Oman 1970 – Note: known as "rial Saidi" before 1973, since known as "rial Omani"

Succeeded by: Current