Currency Today : Morocco 06

The 2023 20 dirhams note, portraits the king, Mohammed VI, and a view of the University of al-Qarawiyyin (857-859) in Fez. This university is said to be have been founded by Fatima al-Fihriya, also called ' mother of the Children'. Her name only appeared many centuries after her death (in stories from 1310-1320), therefore, modern historians, doubt her existence.

20 dirhams - 2023

20  dirhams - 2023 - reverse

On the reverse side, we find the fortress of Aït Benhaddou, a fortrified village in central Morocco, now Unesco World Heritage site. This fortress is located south of Marrakech, on the route to the Sahara.
Also in the picture is the Grand Theatre in Rabat.

The front side of the 50 dirhams note is similar to the 20 dirhams, and also depicts the Ouzoud Falls, as seen on the 2013 note.

50 dirhams - 2023

The reverse side of the note, shows the Ouirgane dam in the Moroccan mountains.

The Ouirgane Dam - Morocco

The new 100 dirhams note, shows the interior of the King Hassan II mosque in Casablanca. The Mosque is the second tallest mosque on the African continent, and with 210 m, the minaret is the second tallest minaret in the world!

Hassan II mosque in Casablanca

On the back, another view of Casablanca, with the Mechouar square.

100 dirhams - 2023 - reverse

The people on the reverse side, represent the Tan Tan on their annual fair (Moussem).

The highest denomination, 200 dirham, shows King Mohammed VI and the bridge near Rabat, named after him.

King Mohammed VI bridge near Rabat

On the reverse side of the 200 dirham note, the international Airport of Marrakech is depicted.

200 dirham - 2023 - Marrakech airport

Marrakech international Airport (RAK)

Currency Today : Morocco 05

In 2023 and 2024, all Moroccan banknotes got a new design. Starting with the 100 dirham note in 2023, and the other denominations in 2024. All notes however have the same date (1445-2023)

2023 Moroccan banknotes

Athough the banknotes got a make over, the image of King Mohammed VI, remained the picture that has been used since 2005.

King Mohammed VI (2024)

The colour scheme for the new notes, is the same as the 2013 series.
The lowest denomination is 20 dirhams, followed by 50, 100 and 200 dirhams.
There is one star on the 20 dirhams, 2 stars on the 50, 3 on the 100 and 4 on the 200 note.

Each note has a colourful security thread, that shifts colour when tilted.

The signatures from the 2023 series are also the same as before: Abdellatif Loudiyi and Abdellatif Jouahri. 

2023 signatures

New for this emission, is the denomination value in the bottom corner. On both sides only half of the numbers are filled with colours. Both sides together make the number complete, which can only be seen when holding the banknote against the light.

20 dirhams:  50 dirhams: 100 and 200 dirhams:   Note also the micro text BANK AL MAGRIB to be continued...

Currency Today : Morocco 04

The 2012 banknote set of Morocco, continues with the 100 dirham note.

For this note, the theme is 'Sahara' - clearly visible at the reverse side of the banknote, where we find the Moussem Tan Tan and a Moroccan tent. Every year, since 1963, the city of Tan Tan organizes a festival, and a fair where traditional Berber tribes gather.

Traditional tent at display
at the El-Badi palace in Marrakech

On the front side of the note, another stylish door is depicted next to the king.

stylished door on 100 dirham

The crown as security feature is gold again, and shifts colour, this is also the case on the 200 dirham note.

The 4th and last note in this series, is the 200 dirham note.
Where the brown colour of the 100 dirham represents the dessert, the blue on the 200 dirham note, symbolizes the sea. A stylized view of the Tangier-Med port and the Cape Spartel lighthouse in Tangier is on the reverse side of the note.

Revers side of 200 dirham note (2012) - Tangier

A very complex design of a stylished door is on the front side of the note.

 

Designs that are present in all colours and pattersn, throughout the houses and palaces in Morocco. 

to be continued...

Currency Today : Morocco 03

In 2012-2013, all banknotes in Morocco were replace by values only depicting King Mohammed VI.

2012-2013 banknotes from Morocco

Banknotes were isued for 20, 50, 100 and 200 dirhams.
The image used for the kings's portrait, was the same as on the 2009 commemorative note.
The design itself was partly inspired by the Euro notes - all notes have the same signatures : Khalid Safir / Abdellatif Jouahri.

For the 20 dirham, the design is inspired by the famous Moroccan doors, mainly found in the various palaces, but also in many regular houses.

moroccan door desing 20 dirham

silver crown

For the 20 dirham note, no specific 'door' was depicted. The images below were taken in the Dar el Bacha palace, in Marrakech. A must see for travellers to this city. Although small, it is worth a visit. Upon entering, make sure to sign up for the famous Bacha Coffee house, before visiting the museum. It will save you over an hour of waiting afterwards!

detail of a door in Dar-el Bacha

At the reverse side of the note, the central image shows the Hassan II mosque in Casablanca.

King Hassan II mosque -  Casablanca

The design of the 50 dirham note is very similar note, with a stylished door behind the king's portrait.
It represents a door at the Bab El-Sebaa, the southern gate in Essaouira. Which is located at the atlantic shore, 180 km west of Marrakech.

Bab El-Sebaa - city gate in Essaouira

door design Essaouira

The location at the atlantic ocean, makes the temperature more bareable in this part of Morocco.
With 15°C cooler than Marrakech, it is the perfect location for a short trip, a good restaurant, or a day at the beach.

Essaouira harbour

The crown security mark is in gold print this time.
On the reverse side of the note, there is an image of the waterfalls of Ouzoud.

Ouzoud Falls

Another day trip away from the centre of Morocco, where you find a 110 m high impressive waterfall.

Ouzoud Falls

 to be continued...

Currency Today : Morocco 02

In 2009, the company that prints and mints the banknotes, coins and security papers in Morocco, known as Dar As-Sikkah (in Rabat), celebrated its 25th anniversary.

A special banknote was put into cirulation, with a face value of 25 dirhams.
It was printed on -only- 4.2 million copies (of which 200,000 for exclusively for collectors).
On a population of over 36 million, only 1/8 of the population was able to get such a note.

25 dirham - 2012

This not is a hybrid note, made of paper, but with a polymere imprint on the top, and a mixed printed windown on the bottom of the note.

On the reverse side, the 25th anniversary of Dar As-Sikkah is celebrated with some coins and printed matter.

25 dirham - 2012 - reverse side

In 2019, another commemorative notes was issued.
This time as a completely polymere note (the first and only polymere note in Morocco so far).

With a face value of 20 dirhams, the note has the same value as the lowest banknote denomination still in circulation

2019 - 20 dirham
commemorative note

In 2019, King Mohammed VI, celebrated his 20th anniversary on the throne.
The 'modern' printing technique and the image of a modern bridge and high speed train symbolize the way Morocco is entering the future.

2019 commemorative 20 dirham note

The see-through window is in an octagonal window, with an image of the king in the centre.
When put against a dark background, the the image apears positive. When put against a white background, the image becomes negative.

positive image

 

image in negative

Non of these notes are found in circulation, but are still legal tender. 

to becontinued...