The Djiboutian franc (, , , ) is the currency of Djibouti. Its ISO 4217 currency code is DJF. Historically, it was subdivided into 100 centimes.
History
From 1884, when the French Somaliland protectorate was established, the French franc circulated alongside the Indian rupee and the Maria Theresa thaler. These coexisted with 2 francs = 1 rupee and 4.2 francs = 1 Maria Theresa thaler.
From 1908, francs circulating in Djibouti were legally fixed at the value of the French franc. Starting in 1910, banknotes were issued for the then colony by the Bank of Indochina. Chamber of Commerce paper money and tokens were issued between 1919 and 1922.
In 1948, the first coins were issued specifically for use in Djibouti, in the name of the "Côte Française des Somalis". In 1949, an independent Djiboutian franc came into being when the local currency was pegged to the US dollar at a rate of 214.392 francs = 1 dollar. This was the value which the French franc had under the Bretton Woods system until a few months before. Consequently, Djiboutian currency appreciated relative to the French franc, and the Djiboutian economy was not affected by the further devaluations of the French franc.
In 1952, the Public Treasury took over the production of paper money. French Somaliland's change of name in 1967 to the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas was reflected on both the territory's coins and notes. In 1971 and 1973, the franc was revalued against the US dollar, first to a rate of 197.466 to the dollar, then 177.721, a rate which has been maintained ever since. A further change in coin and banknote design followed independence in 1977.
Coins
Between 1920 and 1922, the Chamber of Commerce issued tokens struck in zinc, aluminium, bronze and aluminium-bronze in denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 centimes and 1 franc. Shapes included round, hexagonal and octagonal.
In 1948, aluminium 1, 2 and 5 francs were introduced. Aluminium-bronze 20 francs were introduced in 1952, followed by 10 francs in 1965. Cupro-nickel 50 and 100 francs were introduced in 1970, with aluminium-bronze 500 francs added in 1989.
From 2013, new coins of 250 francs were put in circulation to complement the other denominations. Coins of the Djiboutian franc (1977–present)ImageValueTechnical parametersDescriptionDatesObverseReverseDiameterThicknessMassCompositionEdgeObverseReverseYear of mintingYear of issue1 franc23 mm1.4 mm1.3 gAluminumSmoothCoat of arms of DjiboutiHead of waterbuck1977, 1996, 1997, 199919772 francs27.1 mm1.4 mm2.2 g1977, 1991, 1996, 1997, 19995 francs31.1 mm2.3 mm3.75 g1977, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 199910 francs20 mm1.3 mm3 gAluminium-bronzeDjibouti harbour1977, 1983, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 201720 francs23.5 mm1.45 mm4 1977, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2007, 2010, 2016, 201750 francs25.5 mm2.1 mm6.9 gCopper-nickelMilledTwo dromedaries1977, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2007, 2010, 2016, 2017100 francs30 mm2.3 mm12 g1977, 1983, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2025250 francs29 mm2.1 mm10gBimetallic: copper-nickel centre in brass ringDjibouti francolin20122012500 francs28 mm3 mm12.9 gAluminium-bronzeSmoothLaurel wreath1989, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2010, 20251989
Banknotes
Between 1910 and 1915, banknotes were introduced in denominations of 5, 20 and 100 francs. Chamber of Commerce notes were introduced in 1919 in denominations of 5, 10 and 50 centimes and 1 franc. The decline in the value of the French franc following World War I caused 500 and 1000 franc banknotes to be introduced in 1927 and 1938, respectively. 10 franc notes were introduced in 1946.
When the Public Treasury took over the production of paper money in 1952, the 5, 10 and 20 franc notes ceased production and 5000 franc notes were introduced. In 1970, the 50 and 100 franc notes were replaced by coins. In 1977, the National Bank of Djibouti took over production of banknotes. The only subsequent changes have been the introduction of 10,000 franc notes in 1984 and the replacement of the 500 franc note with a coin in 1989.
Banknotes of the Djiboutian franc (1979–1988)Image Value Main Colour DimensionsDescription Date of issueObverseReverseObverseReverseWatermarkYear of printingYear of issue 500 francs Multiple colors140 × 75 mm Man at left, rocks in sea, storks at right Stern of ship at rightCoat of arms of Djibouti1979, 19881979 1000 francs Red152 × 81 mm Woman at left, people by diesel passenger trains at center Trader with camels at center1979, 2005 5000 francs Multiple colors162 × 87 mm Man at right, forest scene at center Aerial view1979 10,000 francs Brown and red170 × 90 mm Woman holding baby Fish and harbor scene19841984 Banknotes of the Djiboutian franc (1997–2009)Image Value Main Colour DimensionsDescription Date of issue Obverse Reverse Obverse ReverseWatermark Year of printingYear of issue 1000 francs Red155 × 70 mm Ali Ahmed Oudoum Port of DjiboutiCoat of arms of Djibouti 20052005 2000 francs Blue160 × 80 mm Young girl and camel caravan Statue with shield and government building 1997, 20081997 5000 francs Violet168 × 80 mm Mahmoud Harbi Dancers 2002200210,000 francsGreen175 × 81 mmPresident Hassan Gouled AptidonCentral Bank building1999, 20091999Banknotes of the Djiboutian franc (2017)ImageValueMain ColourDimensionsDescriptionDate of issueObverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark Year of printingYear of issue 40 francs Multicolored153 × 70 mm Whale shark, corals Port of DjiboutiCoat of arms of Djibouti 20172017
Exchange rate
See also CFA franc Comorian franc Congolese franc Swiss franc Economy of Djibouti
References