Maurício - Republic of Mauritius

Moeda - 5 Rupees 1992

 This is a five rupees coin from 1992. On the reverse side is the portrait of Dr The Right Honourable Sir Seewoodsagur Ramgoolam KT and the Sea and the Palm trees on the observr side.
Valor: R$13,00

Localização das Ilhas Maurício

Mauritian rupee

The rupee is the current currency of Mauritius. It is divided into 100 cents. The ISO 4217 code of the currency is MUR.

History

The rupee was established by law in 1876 as the local currency of Mauritius. The rupee was chosen due to the massive inflow of Indian rupees following Indian immigration to Mauritius. The Mauritian rupee was introduced in 1877 to replace the different currencies in circulation: the Indian rupee, the pound sterling and the Mauritian dollar. The Mauritian rupee was equal to one Indian rupee or half a Mauritian dollar. The pound sterling was worth 10 1/4 rupees at that time. The Mauritian currency also circulated in the Seychelles until 1914, when it was replaced by the Seychellois rupee at par.

In 1934, a peg to sterling replaced the peg to the Indian rupee, at the rate of 1 rupee = 1 shilling 6 pence (the rate at which the Indian rupee was also pegged. This rate, equivalent to 13 1/3 rupees = 1 pound sterling, was maintained until 1979.

Coins

In 1877, coins for 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 cents were introduced, with the lower three denominations in copper and the higher two in silver. Coin production ceased in 1899 and did not recommence until 1911, with silver coins not produced again until 1934, when 1/4, 1/2 and 1 rupee coins were introduced. In 1947, a cupronickel 10 cent coin was introduced. Coins made of cupronickel replaced the other silver coins in 1950.

Mauritius did not gain independance from the UK and become a republic until 1992. In 1987, a new series of coins was introduced which, for the first time, did not feature the portrait of the queen of England, but rather that of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. This new coinage consisted of copper plated steel 1 and 5 cents (the 5 cents was substantially reduced in size), nickel-plated-steel 20 cents and 1/2 rupee, and cupronickel 1 and 5 rupees. The ten rupee banknote was replaced by a cupronickel 10 rupee coin in 1997. Currently the only denominations of coins remaining in circulation on Mauritius are the 1, 5 and 10 rupee coins