⁄100 cent Banknotes 1, 2, 5, 10 dollars | Symbol $ User(s) Rhodesia | |
Coins ⁄2, 1, 2 ⁄2, 5, 10, 20, 25 cents Central bank Reserve Bank of Rhodesia | ||
The dollar (R$) was the currency of Rhodesia between 1970 and 1980. It was subdivided into 100 cents.
Contents
History
The dollar was introduced on 17 February 1970, less than a month before the declaration of a republic on 2 March 1970. It replaced the pound at a rate of 2 dollars to 1 pound. The dollar proved to be a strong currency, at parity with the pound sterling right up to the very end of Rhodesia in 1980, when it was replaced by the Zimbabwean dollar at par. However, the Rhodesian dollar was never a fully convertible currency and its exchange rate was therefore not an indication of the underlying economics.
Half pound
In adopting the Rhodesian dollar, Rhodesia followed the pattern of South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand in that when it adopted the decimal system, it decided to use the half pound unit as opposed to the pound unit of account. The choice of the name dollar was favoured by the then Minister of Finance, John Wrathall, who regarded it as having international substance.
Coins
On 17 February 1970 the Rhodesian dollar was introduced and was par to the Pound; the currency was factured as follows - bronze 1⁄2 and 1 cent and cupro-nickel 2 1⁄2 cent coins were introduced, which circulated alongside the earlier coins of the Rhodesian pound for 5, 10, 20 and 25 cents, which were also denominated in shillings and pence. New 5 cent coins were introduced in 1973, followed by 10, 20 and 25 cents in 1975. Coins were issued until 1977.
Exchange rate history
This table shows the historical value of one Rhodesian dollar.