Finance:Somaliland shilling
 500/-, 1,000/- and 5,000/- banknotes | |
| ISO 4217 | |
| Code | None |
| Unit | |
| Symbol | Sl.Sh. SLSH, /- |
| Denominations | |
| Banknotes | |
| Freq. used | 100/-, 500/-, 1,000/-, 5,000/-[1] |
| Rarely used | 5/-, 10/-, 20/-, 50/-, |
| Coins | |
| Rarely used | 1/-, 5/-, 10/-, 20/- |
| Demographics | |
| User(s) |  Somaliland |
| Issuance | |
| Central bank | Bank of Somaliland (Baanka Somaliland) |
| Website | https://cb.govsomaliland.org/ |
| Valuation | |
| Pegged with | 1U.S. dollar = ~ 10,000/- |
The Somaliland shilling (Somali: Shillin Somaliland, Arabic: شلن صوماليلاندي; abbreviation: Sl.Sh. or SLSH; symbol: /-) is the official currency of the Republic of Somaliland, an unrecognised state in the Horn of Africa, recognised internationally as de jure part of Somalia.[2][3][4]
Overview
The shilling has been the currency of parts of Somalia since 1921, when the East African shilling was introduced to the former British Somaliland protectorate. Following the 1960 independence and unification of the former territories of British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland, their respective currencies, the East African shilling and somalo (which were equal in value) were replaced at par in 1962 by the Somali shilling. Names used for its denominations were cent (singular: centesimo; plural: centesimi) and سنت (plural: سنتيمات), along with shilling (singular: scellino; plural: scellini) and شلن.
In September 1994, the Parliament of Somaliland endorsed President Egal's plans to introduce a new currency to replace the Somali shilling.[5] The Somaliland shilling was introduced on 18 October 1994 at a rate of Sl.So. 1/- to So.Sh. 100/-. The Somali shilling ceased to be accepted as legal tender in Somaliland on 31 January 1995.[6]
Coins
The 1/- and 5/- coins are struck in aluminium, the 10/- coin in brass, the 20/- coin in stainless steel, and the 1,000/- coin in .999 fine silver.
- 1/- coin (1994)
This was the first coin issued by the Somaliland government. The coin depicts a Somali pigeon (Columba oliviae). The PM (Pobjoy Mint) mint mark is located near the bird's tail feathers. The words "REPUBLIC OF SOMALILAND 1994" are inscribed on the obverse of the coin; the reverse of the coin bears the words "BAANKA SOMALILAND" and "ONE SOMALILAND SHILLING" around the "1/-" in the centre.
- 5/- coins (2002)
There are two coins in this denomination, both issued in 2002. The first bears a portrait of Sir Richard Francis Burton, the second depicts a rooster.
The specifications of the first coin are as follows:
The obverse of the coin has the words "RICHARD F. BURTON EXPLORATION OF SOMALILAND" inscribed around Burton's portrait. The dates "1841 1904" are to the left of the portrait, and "2002" is to the right. "BAANKA SOMALILAND" and "FIVE SOMALILAND SHILLINGS" are inscribed on the reverse around the "5/-" in the centre.
The specifications of the second coin are as follows:
The obverse of this coin has the words "REPUBLIC OF SOMALILAND 2002" inscribed on it and depicts a cockerel. As with the other 5/- coin, the dates "1841 1904" are to the left of the portrait, and "2002" is to the right. 'BAANKA SOMALILAND' and 'FIVE SOMALILAND SHILLINGS' are also inscribed on the reverse around the "5/-" in the centre.
- 10/- coin (2002)
The Sl.Sh.10/- coin obverse depicts a vervet monkey,[7] around which the words "REPUBLIC OF SOMALILAND 2002" are inscribed. The reverse of the coin has "BAANKA SOMALILAND" and "TEN SOMALILAND SHILLINGS" inscribed around the "10/-" in the centre.
- 20/- coin (2002)
The obverse of the 20/- coin depicts an Italian Greyhound and has the words "REPUBLIC OF SOMALILAND 2002" inscribed around it.[8][9] The reverse has "BAANKA SOMALILAND" and "TWENTY SOMALILAND SHILLINGS" inscribed around the "20/-" in the centre.
| Obverse | Reverse | Value | Obverse | Reverse | Date of issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 px | 200 px | 1/- | The obverse depicts a Somali pigeon (Columba oliviae) | "BAANKA SOMALILAND" and "ONE SOMALILAND SHILLING" appear above and below the "1/-" in the centre | 1994 |
| 200 px | 200 px | 5/- | There were two coins of this denomination, both issued in 2002. The first coin obverse has a portrait of Sir Richard Francis Burton, while the second depicts a rooster. | "BAANKA SOMALILAND" and "FIVE SOMALILAND SHILLINGS" appear above and below the "5/-" in the centre | 2002 |
| 200 px | 200 px | 10/- | The obverse depicts a vervet monkey | "BAANKA SOMALILAND" and "TEN SOMALILAND SHILLINGS" appear above and below the "10/-" in the centre | 2002 |
| 200 px | 200 px | 20/- | The obverse depicts an Italian Greyhound | "BAANKA SOMALILAND" and "TWENTY SOMALILAND SHILLINGS" appear above and below the "20/-" in the centre | 2002 |
Banknotes
Banknotes were issued in denominations of 5/-, 10/-, 20/-, 50/-, 100/-, 500/-, 1,000/- and 5,000/-; dates of issue range from 1994 to 2011.[10] Currently, only the 100/-, 500/-, 1,000/- and 5,000/- notes are in circulation.
| 1996-2011 notes [1] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obverse | Reverse | Value | Main Colour | Obverse | Reverse | Date(s) of issue |
| 300 px | 300 px | 5/- | Green | Camel caravan in front of Naasa Hablood Hills near Hargeisa | Goodirka Building (Former House of Representatives, later Supreme Court) in Hargeisa, and a kudu to the right | 1994 |
| 300 px | 300 px | 10/- | Purple | 1994, 1996 | ||
| 300 px | 300 px | 20/- | Brown | |||
| 300 px | 300 px | 50/- | Blue | 1996, 1999 | ||
| 300 px | 300 px | 100/- | Khaki | Berbera dockside with Somali sheep and goats | Bank of Somaliland in Hargeisa | 1994, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011 |
| 300 px | 300 px | 500/- | Blue | |||
| 300 px | 300 px | 1,000/- | Red | 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 | ||
| 300 px | 300 px | 5,000/- | Green | Three camels and three goats foraging | 2011, 2012, 2015 | |
| These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre (18 pixel per inch). For table standards, see the banknote specification table. | ||||||
In 1996 and 1999, regular 50/- notes were reissued in a larger size (130 × 58 or 130 × 57 mm by difference sources).
- 5th Anniversary of Independence Commemorative Issue (1996)
Exchange rates
The central bank provides exchange services for various currencies at the official government rate, but most people prefer the unofficial rates used by hawala agents and money changers on the streets of main cities.
- In November 2000, the official exchange rate of Baanka Somaliland was 4,550/- for 1 US dollar. Unofficial exchange rates at the time fluctuated between 4,000/- and 5,000/- per dollar.
- In December 2008, the official rate had fallen to 7,500/- per US dollar.[11]
- In December 2015, the generally recognized exchange rate was 6,000/- per US dollar.
- In July 2019, the generally recognized exchange rate had dropped to 8,500/- per US dollar.
- In December 2022, the official exchange rate of Baanka Somaliland was 8530/- for 1 US dollar. The Somaliland exchange rate in 2019 was 8,500/- per US dollar which is a 0.35% increase of inflation, the Somaliland Shilling remains stable around the 8,000 mark and will most likely decrease in inflation in the coming years.
- In September 2025, the generally recognized exchange rate had dropped to 10,000/- per US dollar.
See also
- Economy of Somaliland
- Somali shilling
References
- ↑ Somaliland new 1,000000- and 5,000000-shilling notes confirmed BanknoteNews.com. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
- ↑ Vickery, Matthew. "The surprising place where cash is going extinct" (in en). https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170912-the-surprising-place-where-cash-is-going-extinct.
- ↑ "Money and Costs in Somaliland" (in en). https://www.lonelyplanet.com/somaliland-puntland-and-somalia/somaliland/a/nar-gr/money-and-costs/355607.
- ↑ Renders, Marleen (2012-01-27) (in en). Consider Somaliland: State-Building with Traditional Leaders and Institutions. BRILL. pp. 134. ISBN 978-90-04-22254-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=IfgxAQAAQBAJ&dq=somaliland+shilling&pg=PA134.
- ↑ Renders, Marleen (2012) (in en). Consider Somaliland: State-Building with Traditional Leaders and Institutions. BRILL. p. 134. ISBN 978-90-04-22254-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=IfgxAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA134. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ↑ "Political Settlements and State Formation: The Case of Somaliland". https://www.dlprog.org/publications/research-papers/political-settlements-and-state-formation-the-case-of-somaliland.
- ↑ "10 Shillings, Somaliland". https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces2428.html.
- ↑ "20 Shillings, Somaliland". https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces2418.html.
- ↑ "20 Shillings Somaliland, Republic 2002, KM# 6 | CoinBrothers Catalog". https://coin-brothers.com/catalog/coin4351.
- ↑ Linzmayer, Owen (2012). "Somaliland". The Banknote Book. San Francisco, CA: www.BanknoteNews.com. http://www.banknotebook.com.
- ↑ "Somaliland Republic : Country Profile". http://www.somalilandgov.com/cprofile.htm.
- Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: Modern Issues 1961-Present (12th ed.). Krause Publications. 2006. ISBN 0-89689-356-1.
External links
| Preceded by: Somali shilling Reason: currency independence Ratio: 1 Somaliland shilling = 100 Somali shillings = 1.50 United States dollar |
Currency of Somaliland 1994 – Note: Somaliland is not widely recognized |
Succeeded by: Current |
Template:Historical currencies of Somaliland
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