The Somali rupia (plural: ''rupie'', Somali: روپيا) was the currency in

Italian Somaliland Italian Somalia ( it, Somalia Italiana; ar, الصومال الإيطالي, Al-Sumal Al-Italiy; so, Dhulka Talyaaniga ee Soomaalida), was a protectorate and later colony of the Kingdom of Italy in present-day Somalia. Ruled in the 19th centur ...

from 1909 to 1925. It was subdivided into 100 ''bese'' (singular: ''besa'', Somali: بيزا).

History

The Somali Rupia was introduced between 1909 and 1910. First, bronze coins denominated in Besa were introduced, followed by silver coins denominated in Rupia in 1910. The Rupia replaced several currencies, including the

Maria Theresa thaler The Maria Theresa thaler (MTT) is a silver bullion coin and a type of Conventionsthaler that has been used in world trade continuously since it was first minted in 1741. It is named after Maria Theresa who ruled Austria, Hungary, and Bohemia fr ...

and the

Indian rupee The Indian rupee ( symbol: ₹; code: INR) is the official currency in the republic of India. The rupee is subdivided into 100 ''paise'' (singular: ''paisa''), though as of 2022, coins of denomination of 1 rupee are the lowest value in use wh ...

, to which it was equal. The Rupia was replaced by the

Italian Somaliland lira The Italian Somaliland lira also called the Somali lira ( it, lira somala), was a special version of the Italian lira minted in Italian Somaliland between 1925 and 1926. Data The "Italian Somali Lira" replaced the Italian Somaliland rupia at ...

during a transition period between July 1, 1925, and June 30, 1926, at a rate of 8 lire = 1 rupia. Since the Rupia's replacement, several currencies have circulated in what was Italian Somaliland, including the

Italian East African lira The lira AOI was a special banknote circulating in Italian East Africa (''Africa Orientale Italiana'', or AOI) between 1938 and 1941. Data When Fascist Italy imposed the Italian lira in Ethiopia in 1936, it decided upon a rate of 3 lire = 1 th ...

, the East African shilling, the Italian Somaliland somalo and the

Somali shilling The Somali shilling (sign: Sh.So.; so, shilin; ar, شلن; it, scellino; ISO 4217: SOS) is the official currency of Somalia. It is subdivided into 100 ''senti'' (Somali, also ), ''cents'' (English) or (Italian). Overview Early history The ...

Coins

In 1909, bronze coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 2 and 4 bese. These were followed, in 1910, by silver ¼, ½ and 1 rupia. The silver coins were struck to the same specifications as those of the Indian rupee. Silver coins were struck until 1921, with bronze continuing until 1924.

Banknotes

The first currency specific to Italian Somaliland was issued between 1893 and 1896 by V. Filonardi & Company, a private trading company run by Vincenzo Filonardi, Italy’s former consul at Zanzibar. Filonardi’s 5-rupia notes were promissory notes not intended to replace the currencies then circulating in Italian Somaliland, including the Indian rupee and the Maria Theresa thaler. Official banknotes were introduced in 1920 by the

Banca d'Italia The Bank of Italy (Italian: ''Banca d'Italia'', informally referred to as ''Bankitalia''), (), is the central bank of Italy and part of the European System of Central Banks. It is located in Palazzo Koch, via Nazionale, Rome. The bank's curre ...

. These were cash certificates (''buoni di cassa'') in denominations of 1, 5 and 10 rupie. 10 and 20 rupie were printed but not issued.

References

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External links

Paper Money of Italian Somaliland
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Italian Somaliland Rupia mintage
{{Rupee Modern obsolete currencies Currencies of Somalia Economic history of Somalia 1909 establishments in the Italian Empire 1925 disestablishments Rupia