The Moroccan Dirham

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dirham is the legal tender in Morocco, made up of 100 units each of them called a santim. Dirhams are the official Moroccan currency since 1882, and they come in coins of nine denominations and banknotes of four denominations.

Origins and history

Before 1882, when the new monetary system was introduced, Morocco issued copper coins called falus, silver dirhams and golden benduqui. In 1882, the dirham became a multiple of the rial coins.

In 1960, after the end of the French protectorate, the country introduced the dirham again to replace francs (1 dirham equalled 100 francs). This currency still circulated until 1974.

Current Moroccan dirham banknotes

The first dirham banknotes were overprints on earlier franc banknotes, in denominations of 50 dirhams (on older 5,000 franc notes) and 100 dirhams (on 10,000 franc notes). In 1965 new notes were issued for 5, 10 and 50 dirhams. 100 dirham notes were introduced in 1970, followed by 200 dirham notes in 1991 and 20 dirham notes in 1996. 5 dirham notes were replaced by coins in 1980 and 10 dirham notes were replaced by coins in 1995.

The current series of banknotes, , issued in the reign of Mohammed VI, circulates together with the series issued in the reign of his father, King Hassan II. Both series circulate together normally, but the notes issued under the former monarch are being gradually replaced by the new ones. The colours for both series are the same, unchanged, only the design of the new series varies with the effigy of the new monarch and its more modern graphic design and newer security measures.

Nowadays there are 20, 50, 100 and 200 dirham notes in circulation. For more information check Bank Al-Maghrib’s web page, which issues the banknotes and coins for this currency.

Billetes de Dirham marroquí

Current dirham coins in use

In 1960 new 1 dirham coins were issued in silver, and for 1 and 5 dirham coins, in nickel in 1965. In 1974 a new monetary system started with the issuing of centimes, in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 centime coins and 1 dirham coins. 1 centime coins were minted in aluminium, 5, 10 and 20 centime coins in bronze-aluminium and the rest in cupro-nickel. In 1980 a new coin of 5 dirhams was issued, but was soon replaced by a bimetallic coin of the same value in 1987. In 1995 a new bimetallic 10 dirham coin was added.

The current legal tender coins were issued in the year 2002, and they gradually replaced the former series bearing the bust of King Hassan II. These 5 and 10 dirham coins are bimetallic and 1 centime coins are no longer minted, although they were never officially removed from circulation. In 2002 a new 2 dirham denomination was introduced.

The coins currently in circulation are 5, 10 and 20 centime coins, and 0.5, 1, 2, 5 and 10 dirhams. Check Bank Al-Maghrib’s web page for more information.

Monedas de Dirham marroquí

Did you know?

  • The plural for dirham is darahim, although in English and French the word dirhams is commonly used.
  • The centimes of dirhams are called francs or santimat.
  • One dirham is divided into 100 francs or santimat.
  • In countryside markets the reales (rial) and duros (doro) are still used.

Symbol:

MAD

ISO:

MAD

Date of issue:

1882

Authority:

Bank Al-Maghrib

Online money order: best price guaranteed

Make your order online and collect it at the branch of your choice.

ORDER CURRENCY ONLINE
YOUR BEST RATE
 

Why change currency with us rather than your bank?

    Global Exchange Global Exchange     Your Bank
Currencies available   More than 60 currencies. We are specialists   Only the most common ones. Banks do not offer this specialist service.
Ready currency   Ever ready, immediately, in our branches at the airport.   Banks order currency and have to await delivery. 
Currency divided in different denominations.   Of course! We care about you and your needs while you travel abroad.    No. Prepare for refusals and complaints in foreign languages when paying with «big» banknotes.
Delivery options   Collect at the airport/branch of your preference. It is all about comfort!   You must visit your bank at least twice, and wait meanwhile for your money to arrive.
What do I do with my leftover currency when I come home?   We buy it back from you at the airport, just as when you ordered online.   You must return to your bank. They may buy your currency back at a worse rate and then charge you a commission. 
Anything else?   Yes: our Iberia Plus Customers who reserve online earn Avios for their purchases, as when they buy at the airport.   Avi-what? No sir! This is a bank, not an airline company!