Morocco Rolls out New Note and Coin Series

Bank Al-Maghrib has issued a new coin series as part of its latest round of currency updates. Alongside new 10 and 20 centimes, and ½ dirham, 1, 5 s and and 10 dirham coins, an updated 100 dirham banknote has also been issued as the first in a new note series.

This is the first complete new coin series since 2011, with each new coin featuring a different design focusing on a specific theme or value: 

• 10 centimes – agriculture

• 20 centimes – sustainable development and environment

• ½ dirham – cultural diversity

• 1 dirham – national sovereignty

• 5 dirhams – development of the Moroccan Sahara

• 10 dirhams – development and infrastructure.

As with the previous series, the front of the 1, 5, and 10 dirham coins depict HM King Mohammed VI, whilst the lower value coins continue to feature the national coat-of-arms. The dimensions, weight and composition of the coins are also the same as those of the previous series.

The main theme of the new 100 dirham banknote is the Moroccan Sahara. Alongside a portrait of the King on the front are images of traditional Moroccan doors and the arcades of the front of the Hassan II in Casablanca (Africa’s largest functioning mosque). On the reverse is a stylised image of Place Mechour in Casablanca, the Tiznit Dakhla Expressway (which, when fully completed next year, will provide a transcontinental road linking Europe to sub-Saharan Africa through Morocco), and the Feast of Moussem de Tan Tan.

The key security features are a registered 5mm wide Galaxy® windowed security thread, which matches the gold-to-green colour shift and movement effects of the SPARK® Live denomination numeral.

The same design on the front will feature on the other three denominations when they are introduced. The themes of these are culture for the 20 dirhams, the environment and renewable energy for the 50 dirhams, and infrastructure, industry and development for the 200 dirhams.

Morocco’s current series was issued in 2012. It is the Bank’s policy to upgrade its banknotes every ten years.

Both notes and coins have been produced by Morocco’s national printworks and mint, Dar As Sikkah.