Somali shilling

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Somali shilling
shilin soomaali (Somali)
10 senti coin of 1976
10 senti coin of 1976
ISO 4217 Code SOS
User(s) Somalia
Symbol So. Sh.
Coins 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 shillings
Banknotes 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 shillings
Central bank Central Bank of Somalia
Somalia

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The Somali shilling (shilin soomaali) is the currency used in the African nation of Somalia. The ISO 4217 code for the Somali shilling is SOS.

Contents

The shilling has been the currency of parts of Somalia since 1921, when the East African shilling was introduced to British Somaliland. Following independence, the somalo of Italian Somaliland and the East African shilling (which were equal in value) were replaced at par by the Somali shilling, called the scellino in Italian. The shilling/scellino was subdivided into 100 cents/centesimi.

The Somali names shilin and sent were introduced in 1976, with the Italian names disappearing. The Italian name scellino made its way back on some of the coins in 2000, but not all. The spelling of the subunit today remains unknown.

In Somaliland, a separate issue of currency circulates, denominated in Somaliland shillings.

Older coins include the 5, 10, 50 senti and 1, 5 shilin.

Whether current issues of coins are used in practice is also unknown. For example, 10 shilling coin is only available as commemorative coin in the Twelve Animal series or F.A.O.. Other regional currencies as well as the U.S. dollar and euro circulate as well.

The situation of the currency in Somalia is unknown, but as in Afghanistan before 2002, banknotes of the old issue of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 shilling are probably being produced without honouring the serial numbers.

In the south, only the 1000 shilin note remains in circulation today. All other denominations, such as the 20, 50, 100, 500 in circulation prior the civil war, disappeared. In the more northern peaceful areas of the country, still the 500 shilin note along with 1000 shilin can be seen in circulation.

Free market rates in southern Somalia:

2000 SOS/USD in June 1991

5000 SOS/USD in June 1993

13400 SOS/USD in March 2006

Preceded by:
Italian Somaliland somalo
Location: Italian Somaliland
Reason: independence and merging of British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland
Ratio: at par
Currency of Somalia
19621991
Note: the shilling was made the unit of account shortly after independence in 1960
Currency of Somalia
1991
Succeeded by:
Current
Preceded by:
East African shilling
Location: British Somaliland
Reason: independence and merging of British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland
Ratio: at par
Currency of Somaliland
19911994
Succeeded by:
Somaliland shilling
Reason: currency independence
Ratio: 1 Somaliland shilling = 100 Somali shillings = 1/50 United States dollar
Note: Somaliland is not widely recognized


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