Exchange Currency
Kuwaiti dinar
The dinar is the currency of Kuwait. It is sub-divided into 1000 fils. It is the highest-valued currency unit in the world.
When Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, the Iraqi dinar replaced the Kuwaiti dinar as the currency and large quantities of banknotes were stolen by the invading forces. After liberation, the Kuwaiti dinar was restored as the country's currency and a new banknote series was introduced, allowing the previous notes, including those stolen, to be demonetized.
For a wider history surrounding currency in the region, see The History of British Currency in the Middle East.
After the creation of the Central Bank of Kuwait as a replacement to the Kuwaiti Currency Board, new ¼, ½ and 10 dinar notes were issued from 17 November 1970, followed by the new 1 and 5 dinar notes of the second series on 20 April 1971. This second series was likewise withdrawn on 1 February 1982.
The third series was issued on 20 February 1980, after the accession to the throne of Emir Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, at that time in denominations of ¼, ½, 1, 5 and 10 dinar. A 20 dinar banknote was introduced on 9 February 1986. As a result of the state of emergency after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, this series was ruled invalid with effect from 30 September 1991. Significant quantities of these notes were stolen by Iraqi forces and some have appeared on the international numismatic market.
After the liberation, a fourth series was issued on 24 March 1991 with the aims of replacing the previous withdrawn series as quickly as possible and guaranteeing the country's swift economic recovery. This fourth series was legal tender until 16 February 1995. Denominations were ¼, ½, 1, 5, 10 and 20 dinar.
The fifth series of Kuwaiti banknotes has been in use since 3 April 1994 and include high-tech security measures which have now become standard for banknotes. Denominations were as in the fourth series.
Summary info
Summary information about Kuwaiti dinar- ISO 4217 Code:
- KWD
- Currency sign:
- د.ك
- Country:
- Kuwait
- Subunit:
- fil
- Coins:
- 5 fils, 10 fils, 20 fils, 50 fils, 100 fils
- Banknotes:
- 0.25 dinars, 0.5 dinars, 1 dinars, 5 dinars, 10 dinars, 20 dinars
- Central bank:
- Central Bank of Kuwait
History
The dinar was introduced in 1961 to replace the Gulf rupee. It was initially equivalent to one pound sterling. As the rupee was fixed at 1 shilling 6 pence, this resulted in a conversion rate of 13⅓ rupees to the dinar.When Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, the Iraqi dinar replaced the Kuwaiti dinar as the currency and large quantities of banknotes were stolen by the invading forces. After liberation, the Kuwaiti dinar was restored as the country's currency and a new banknote series was introduced, allowing the previous notes, including those stolen, to be demonetized.
For a wider history surrounding currency in the region, see The History of British Currency in the Middle East.
Coins
The following coins were first introduced in 1961: 1 fils 5 fils 10 fils 20 fils 50 fils 100 filsBanknotes
To date five series of the Kuwaiti dinar banknote have been printed. The first series was issued following the pronouncement of the Kuwaiti Currency Law in 1960 which established the Kuwaiti Currency Board. This series was in circulation from 1 April 1961 to 1 February 1982 and consisted of denominations of ¼, ½, 1, 5 and 10 dinars.After the creation of the Central Bank of Kuwait as a replacement to the Kuwaiti Currency Board, new ¼, ½ and 10 dinar notes were issued from 17 November 1970, followed by the new 1 and 5 dinar notes of the second series on 20 April 1971. This second series was likewise withdrawn on 1 February 1982.
The third series was issued on 20 February 1980, after the accession to the throne of Emir Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, at that time in denominations of ¼, ½, 1, 5 and 10 dinar. A 20 dinar banknote was introduced on 9 February 1986. As a result of the state of emergency after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, this series was ruled invalid with effect from 30 September 1991. Significant quantities of these notes were stolen by Iraqi forces and some have appeared on the international numismatic market.
After the liberation, a fourth series was issued on 24 March 1991 with the aims of replacing the previous withdrawn series as quickly as possible and guaranteeing the country's swift economic recovery. This fourth series was legal tender until 16 February 1995. Denominations were ¼, ½, 1, 5, 10 and 20 dinar.
The fifth series of Kuwaiti banknotes has been in use since 3 April 1994 and include high-tech security measures which have now become standard for banknotes. Denominations were as in the fourth series.
KWD banknotes pictures gallery
| 0.25 Kuwaiti dinars | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 0.25 Kuwaiti dinars has dimensions 110×68 mm and main colors are manatee, light gray, khaki and dim gray. | |
 Obverse side of the 0.25 Kuwaiti dinars is showing a vignette of Kuwaiti Dhow "Al-Mouhaleb" and the vignette of a Kuwaiti Chest. |
 Reverse side of the 0.25 Kuwaiti dinars is showing a vignette of young girls playing traditional game. |
| 0.5 Kuwaiti dinars | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 0.5 Kuwaiti dinars has dimensions 120×68 mm and main colors are peach puff, misty rose, asparagus and battleship grey. | |
 Obverse side of the 0.5 Kuwaiti dinars is showing the Kuwaiti Money Changers Stalls and a vignette of a Kuwaiti Coffee. Pot. |
 Reverse side of the 0.5 Kuwaiti dinars is showing the a vignette of young boys playing traditional game with marbles. |
| 1 Kuwaiti dinar | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 1 Kuwaiti dinar has dimensions 130×68 mm and main colors are cadet grey, wild blue yonder and dark electric blue. | |
 Obverse side of the 1 Kuwaiti dinar is showing a vignette of Kuwait Towers and vignette of a traditional Oil Lamp. |
 Reverse side of the 1 Kuwaiti dinar is showing a vignette of Mina Al-Shuwaikh and a traditional Water Storage Vessel on Stand. |
| 5 Kuwaiti dinars | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 5 Kuwaiti dinars has dimensions 140×68 mm and main colors are fuzzy wuzzy, apricot, peach puff and charcoal. | |
 Obverse side of the 5 Kuwaiti dinars is showing a vignette of the New Telecom Tower "Liberation Tower" and a traditional Grinding Stone. |
 Reverse side of the 5 Kuwaiti dinars is showing a vignette of an Oil Refinery Vignette of Al-Zour Power Station, Kuwaiti Water Tanks and Electricity Pylons. |
| 10 Kuwaiti dinars | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 10 Kuwaiti dinars has dimensions 150×68 mm and main colors are cool grey, taupe, pale chestnut and bazaar. | |
 Obverse side of the 10 Kuwaiti dinars is showing a vignette of the Great State Mosque and a traditional Water Vessel. |
 Reverse side of the 10 Kuwaiti dinars is showing a vignette of a Dhow under full sail, a traditional Kuwaiti door, a Pearl Diving Scene and a Kuwaiti Incense Burner. |
| 20 Kuwaiti dinars | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 20 Kuwaiti dinars has dimensions 160×68 mm and main colors are cambridge blue, olive drab #7, ucla blue and ash grey. | |
 Obverse side of the 20 Kuwaiti dinars is showing a vignette of Red Fort at Jahra and a Cannon at the Red Fort. |
 Reverse side of the 20 Kuwaiti dinars is showing a vignette of the Central Bank of Kuwait Building and a Gateway in the Old Wall of Kuwait City. |
Useful links
- About Central Bank of Kuwait:
- Central Bank of Kuwait
- List of currencies:
- Currencies
- Security and design features of KWD banknotes:
- KWD banknotes
- KWD currency on Wikipedia:
- Kuwaiti dinar
- Official Website of Central Bank of Kuwait:
- Commemorative coins:
- Commemorative Coins