The currency of Afghanistan: the history of the currency. Curious information about the currency

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The national currency of Afghanistan, the afghani, was put into circulation in 1929. Previously, this country had a rather intricate financial system. For example, the main coin was the Kabul rupee. In addition, a number of smaller coins were used: kirans, abbasi, paisas. The official currency of Afghanistan was called the afghani only in 1978. One afghani consists of one hundred pools. The currency of Afghanistan and its features are presented in this material.

Denominations of the monetary unit

Currently, banknotes in denominations of one, two, five, ten, twenty, fifty, one hundred, five hundred and one thousand afghani are used in cash circulation in Afghanistan. The pool change coin almost completely disappeared from circulation at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, but after the denomination, it returned again and is used in trading operations. At the moment, coins are used in denominations of one, two and five AFA, which are made of white metal and are called “falizi” among the local population. The yellow metal token is represented by pools in denominations of twenty-five and fifty. In addition, it should be noted that the currency of Afghanistan of different series is involved in circulation.

Using other currencies for trading

It will be by the way to say that in most of the territory of the state of Afghanistan, US dollars are accepted at retail outlets. True, in remote regions only the national currency afghani is in circulation. In settlements such as Kandahar and Jalalabad, you can pay with Pakistani rupees, or, as they are also called, kaldars. In the Herat region, Iranian rials are in circulation. At the same time, attention should be paid to the fact that when paying for goods and services in any other currency, change is given, as a rule, anyway, in Afghani. Such operations are unprofitable for buyers, since sellers count at a rate far from the officially established rate. What currency in Afghanistan can be seen in the images presented in this article.

Degree of Afghan protection

The currency of Afghanistan is characterized as a monetary unit, poorly protected from counterfeiting. As you know, Islam forbids the creation of any portraits of people or animals, so only inscriptions and images of traditional national symbols are applied to banknotes. On the obverse of the banknote in denominations of one afghani is the seal of the National Bank. The reverse of the banknote depicts the Blue Mosque and the Mausoleum of Ali in Mazar-i-Sharif. Among the means of still existing protection, one can note the watermark of the mosque and the protective thread located on the left side.

Interesting facts about Afghani

The curious thing isthe fact that the currency of Afghanistan is produced at the Goznak factories in the Russian Federation. It would be nice to say that afghanis are printed on paper similar to that from which the US dollar is made.

Afghanistan has two national currency rates at once. The first one is established by the Central Bank in Kabul. And the second - the so-called "northern" Central Bank. According to these two rates, cash is received from banking institutions that are under the control of either the Taliban or the "Northerners".

The banknote of 1 thousand afghani is designed in orange tones. On its obverse, on the right, there is an image of the Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif. In addition, a bank seal and a holographic strip are placed on the banknote. On the opposite side in the central part of the banknote is the Mausoleum of Ahmad Shah Durrani in Kandahar. At the same time, the dimensions of the bill are 156 by 66 millimeters.

In conclusion, it must be emphasized that the use of credit or debit plastic payment cards is practically excluded in the state of Afghanistan. Throughout the country there is one functioning ATM in the Wazir Akbar Khan district in Kabul. In addition, it can only accept Visa cards and is not open 24/7. Therefore, when traveling to Afghanistan, it is better to have cash with you.