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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox currency
{{Infobox currency
| image_1 = Rhodesian dollar.jpg
| image_1 = Rhodesia $1 1978 Obverse.png
| image_title_1 = 1 dollar note
| image_title_1 = 1 dollar note
| iso_code = RHD
| iso_code = RHD
Line 15: Line 15:
}}
}}


The '''Rhodesian dollar''' (''R$ or Rh$'', {{ISO4217|RHD}}) was the [[currency]] of [[Rhodesia]] between 1970 and 1980. It was subdivided into 100 [[cent (currency)|cent]]s.
The '''Rhodesian dollar''' (''R$ or Rh$'', {{ISO 4217|RHD}}) was the [[currency]] of [[Rhodesia]] between 1970 and 1980. It was subdivided into 100 [[cent (currency)|cent]]s.


==History==
==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 [[Rhodesian 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.
The dollar was introduced on 17 February 1970, roughly two weeks before the declaration of a [[republic]] on 2 March 1970. It replaced the [[Rhodesian 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==
==Half pound==


In adopting the Rhodesian dollar, Rhodesia followed the pattern of [[South African rand|South Africa]], [[Australian dollar|Australia]], and [[New Zealand dollar|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 [[Ministry of Finance (Rhodesia)|Minister of Finance]], [[John Wrathall]], who regarded it as having international substance.<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=W0KNBgAAQBAJ&lpg=PA124&ots=NjD94MQTus&dq=john%20wrathall%20rhodesia&pg=PA124#v=onepage&q=john%20wrathall%20rhodesia&f=false ''Unpopular Sovereignty: Rhodesian Independence and African Decolonization''], Luise White,
In adopting the Rhodesian dollar, Rhodesia followed the pattern of [[South African rand|South Africa]], [[Australian dollar|Australia]], and [[New Zealand dollar|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 [[Ministry of Finance (Rhodesia)|Minister of Finance]], [[John Wrathall]], who regarded it as having international substance.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=W0KNBgAAQBAJ&dq=john+wrathall+rhodesia&pg=PA124 ''Unpopular Sovereignty: Rhodesian Independence and African Decolonization''], Luise White,
University of Chicago Press, 2015, page 124</ref>
University of Chicago Press, 2015, page 124</ref>


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Rhodesia had both {{1/2}} Cent and {{frac|2|1|2}} Cents coins, just like in South Africa.
Rhodesia had both {{1/2}} Cent and {{frac|2|1|2}} Cents coins, just like in South Africa.


* The {{1/2}} Cent coin was struck between 1970 and 1977 - with the 1977 1/2 Cent being extremely rare, with 10 coins known.
* The {{1/2}} Cent coin was struck between 1970 and 1977 - with the 1977 {{frac|1|2}} Cent being extremely rare, with 10 coins known.
* The {{frac|2|1|2}} Cents ([[Tickey]]) was struck in 1970 only.
* The {{frac|2|1|2}} Cents ([[Tickey]]) was struck in 1970 only.
* The 5 Cents was struck in 1973 and between 1975 and 1977.
* The 5 Cents was struck in 1973 and between 1975 and 1977.
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On 17 February 1970, the Reserve Bank of Rhodesia introduced notes in denominations of 1, 2 and 10 dollars.<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Linzmayer | first1 = Owen | title = The Banknote Book | chapter = Rhodesia | publisher = BanknoteNews.com | year = 2012 | location = San Francisco, CA | url = http://www.banknotebook.com}}</ref> 5-dollar notes were added in 1972.
On 17 February 1970, the Reserve Bank of Rhodesia introduced notes in denominations of 1, 2 and 10 dollars.<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Linzmayer | first1 = Owen | title = The Banknote Book | chapter = Rhodesia | publisher = BanknoteNews.com | year = 2012 | location = San Francisco, CA | url = http://www.banknotebook.com}}</ref> 5-dollar notes were added in 1972.


{|class = "wikitable"
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;width:100%"
|+Banknotes of the Rhodesian Dollar 1970 - 1978
! rowspan="2"|[[Albert Pick|Pick]]<br/>No. (of example image)
! colspan="2"|Image
! rowspan="2"|Value
! rowspan="2"|Dimensions
! rowspan="2" colspan="2"|Main colour
! colspan="3"|Description
! colspan="3"|Date of
|-
|-
! style="max-width:104px;width:104px"|Obverse
! colspan="2" | Image !! rowspan="2" | Value !! rowspan="2" | Dimensions !! rowspan="2" | Main Colour
! style="max-width:104px;width:104px"|Reverse
! Obverse
! Reverse
! Watermark
! printing
! issue
! withdrawal
|-
|-
| style="text-align:center"|34c
| style="background:#000"|[[File:Rhodesia $1 1978 Obverse.png|104px]]
| style="background:#000"|[[File:Rhodesia $1 1978 Reverse.png|104px]]
| style="text-align:right"|$1
| 134 × 75 mm
| style="background:#80C0FF;width:0"| ||Blue
| [[Zimbabwe Bird]]
| Tobacco field
| [[Cecil John Rhodes]]
| 1970 - 1978
| 17 February 1970
|
|-
| style="text-align:center"|31d
| style="background:#000"|[[File:Rhodesia $2 1970 Obverse.png|104px]]
| style="background:#000"|[[File:Rhodesia $2 1970 Reverse.png|104px]]
| style="text-align:right"|$2
| 149 × 83 mm
| style="background:#FF8080"| ||Red
| [[Gloriosa (plant)|Flame lily]]
| [[Victoria Falls]]
| Cecil John Rhodes
| 1970 - 1978
| 17 February 1970
|
|-
| style="text-align:center"|36b
| style="background:#000"|[[File:Rhodesia $5 1978 Obverse.png|104px]]
| style="background:#000"|[[File:Rhodesia $5 1978 Reverse.png|104px]]
| style="text-align:right"|$5
| 152 × 86 mm
| style="background:#C0A080"| ||Brown
| Giraffe
| Lions
| Cecil John Rhodes
| 1972 - 1978
| 16 October 1972
|
|-
| style="text-align:center"|37a
| style="background:#000"|[[File:Rhodesia $10 1976 Obverse.png|104px]]
| style="background:#000"|[[File:Rhodesia $10 1976 Reverse.png|104px]]
| style="text-align:right"|$10
| 158 × 88 mm
| style="background:#55574D"| ||Grey
| [[Sable antelope]]
| [[Great Zimbabwe]]
| Cecil John Rhodes
| 1970 - 1978
| 17 February 1970
|
|-
|}



On 2 January 1979, the Reserve Bank of Rhodesia replaced the watermark of Cecil Rhodes with that of the Zimbabwe Bird, following the [[Internal Settlement]], which saw the country renamed [[Zimbabwe Rhodesia]].

{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;width:100%"
|+Banknotes of the Rhodesian Dollar 1979 - 1980
! rowspan="2"|[[Albert Pick|Pick]]<br/>No.
! colspan="2"|Image
! rowspan="2"|Value
! rowspan="2"|Dimensions
! rowspan="2" colspan="2"|Main colour
! colspan="3"|Description
! colspan="3"|Date of
|-
! style="max-width:104px;width:104px"|Obverse
! style="max-width:104px;width:104px"|Reverse
! Obverse
! Reverse
! Watermark
! printing
! issue
! withdrawal
|-
|-
| style="text-align:center"|38
! Obverse !! Reverse
| style="background:#000"|[[File:Rhodesia $1 1979 Obverse.png|104px]]
| style="background:#000"|[[File:Rhodesia $1 1979 Reverse.png|104px]]
| style="text-align:right"|$1
| 134 × 75 mm
| style="background:#80C0FF;width:0"| ||Blue
| [[Zimbabwe Bird]]
| Tobacco field
| Zimbabwe Bird
| 1979 - 1980
| 2 August 1979
|
|-
|-
| style="text-align:center"|39
|[[File:Rhodesian dollar.jpg|100px]]||[[File:Rhodesia1a.jpg|100px]]||1 dollar||132x75||Blue
| style="background:#000"|[[File:Rhodesia $2 1979 Obverse.png|104px]]
| style="background:#000"|[[File:Rhodesia $2 1979 Reverse.png|104px]]
| style="text-align:right"|$2
| 149 × 83 mm
| style="background:#FF8080"| ||Red
| [[Gloriosa (plant)|Flame lily]]
| [[Victoria Falls]]
| Zimbabwe Bird
| 1979 - 1980
| 24 May 1979
|
|-
|-
| style="text-align:center"|40
|[[File:Rhodesian dollar2.jpg|100px]]||[[File:Rhodesia2a.jpg|100px]]||2 dollars||Unknown||Red
| style="background:#000"|[[File:Rhodesia $5 1979 Obverse.png|104px]]
| style="background:#000"|[[File:Rhodesia $5 1979 Reverse.png|104px]]
| style="text-align:right"|$5
| 152 × 86 mm
| style="background:#C0A080"| ||Brown
| Giraffe
| Lions
| Zimbabwe Bird
| 1979 - 1980
| 15 May 1979
|
|-
|-
| style="text-align:center"|41
|[[File:Rhodesia5.jpg|100px]]||[[File:Rhodesia5a.jpg|100px]]||5 dollars||Unknown||Orange (brown background)
| style="background:#000"|[[File:Rhodesia $10 1979 Obverse.png|104px]]
| style="background:#000"|[[File:Rhodesia $10 1979 Reverse.png|104px]]
| style="text-align:right"|$10
| 158 × 88 mm
| style="background:#55574D"| ||Grey
| [[Sable antelope]]
| [[Great Zimbabwe]]
| Zimbabwe Bird
| 1979 - 1980
| 2 January 1979
|
|-
|-
|[[File:Rhodesia10.jpg|100px]]||[[File:Rhodesia10a.jpg|100px]]||10 dollars||Unknown||Grey
|}
|}


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*{{numis cite SCWPM|date=1994}}
*{{numis cite SCWPM|date=1994}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}

{{Portal|Money|Numismatics}}


==External links==
==External links==
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{{dollar|state = collapsed}}
{{dollar|state = collapsed}}
{{Rhodesian topics}}
{{Rhodesian topics}}
{{Portal bar|Africa|Money|Numismatics}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhodesian Dollar}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhodesian Dollar}}
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[[Category:Currencies of Rhodesia|dollar]]
[[Category:Currencies of Rhodesia|dollar]]
[[Category:Currencies of the Commonwealth of Nations]]
[[Category:Currencies of the Commonwealth of Nations]]
[[Category:Rhodesia]]
[[Category:1970 establishments in Rhodesia]]
[[Category:1970 establishments in Rhodesia]]
[[Category:1980 disestablishments in Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:1980 disestablishments in Zimbabwe]]

Latest revision as of 10:02, 2 May 2024

Rhodesian dollar
1 dollar note
ISO 4217
CodeRHD
Unit
Symbol$‎
Denominations
Subunit
 1⁄100cent
Banknotes1, 2, 5, 10 dollars
Coins1⁄2, 1, 2+1⁄2, 5, 10, 20, 25 cents
Demographics
User(s) Rhodesia
Issuance
Central bankReserve Bank of Rhodesia
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete.

The Rhodesian dollar (R$ or Rh$, RHD) was the currency of Rhodesia between 1970 and 1980. It was subdivided into 100 cents.

History

[edit]

The dollar was introduced on 17 February 1970, roughly two weeks before the declaration of a republic on 2 March 1970. It replaced the Rhodesian 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

[edit]

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.[1]

Coins

[edit]
Main article: Coins of the Rhodesian dollar

On 17 February 1970 the Rhodesian dollar was introduced and was par to the Pound; the currency was manufactured 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 struck until 1977 at the South African Mint in Pretoria.

Rhodesia had both 1⁄2 Cent and 2+1⁄2 Cents coins, just like in South Africa.

  • The 1⁄2 Cent coin was struck between 1970 and 1977 - with the 1977 1⁄2 Cent being extremely rare, with 10 coins known.
  • The 2+1⁄2 Cents (Tickey) was struck in 1970 only.
  • The 5 Cents was struck in 1973 and between 1975 and 1977.
  • The 10 and 25 Cents was struck in 1975 only.
  • The 20 Cents was struck in 1975 and 1977.

Tommy Sasseen was the designer of all Rhodesian coins from 1964 to 1968 (reverse only) and 1970 to 1977 (both obverse and reverse).

Banknotes

[edit]

On 17 February 1970, the Reserve Bank of Rhodesia introduced notes in denominations of 1, 2 and 10 dollars.[2] 5-dollar notes were added in 1972.

Banknotes of the Rhodesian Dollar 1970 - 1978
Pick
No. (of example image) 		Image Value Dimensions Main colour Description Date of
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark printing issue withdrawal
34c $1 134 × 75 mm Blue Zimbabwe Bird Tobacco field Cecil John Rhodes 1970 - 1978 17 February 1970
31d $2 149 × 83 mm Red Flame lily Victoria Falls Cecil John Rhodes 1970 - 1978 17 February 1970
36b $5 152 × 86 mm Brown Giraffe Lions Cecil John Rhodes 1972 - 1978 16 October 1972
37a $10 158 × 88 mm Grey Sable antelope Great Zimbabwe Cecil John Rhodes 1970 - 1978 17 February 1970


On 2 January 1979, the Reserve Bank of Rhodesia replaced the watermark of Cecil Rhodes with that of the Zimbabwe Bird, following the Internal Settlement, which saw the country renamed Zimbabwe Rhodesia.

Banknotes of the Rhodesian Dollar 1979 - 1980
Pick
No. 		Image Value Dimensions Main colour Description Date of
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark printing issue withdrawal
38 $1 134 × 75 mm Blue Zimbabwe Bird Tobacco field Zimbabwe Bird 1979 - 1980 2 August 1979
39 $2 149 × 83 mm Red Flame lily Victoria Falls Zimbabwe Bird 1979 - 1980 24 May 1979
40 $5 152 × 86 mm Brown Giraffe Lions Zimbabwe Bird 1979 - 1980 15 May 1979
41 $10 158 × 88 mm Grey Sable antelope Great Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Bird 1979 - 1980 2 January 1979

Exchange rate history

[edit]

This table shows the historical value of one Rhodesian dollar.

Date Official Rate Free / Parallel Rate notes
1970 (Feb) US$1.40 — Parallel market starts 1970 (July)
1971 (Aug) R 1.00 (−30%) R 0.769 Pegged to the ZA Rand
1971 (Dec) US$1.52 (−30% to 40%) US$1.09 to US$1.17 US dollar devalued
1972 (July) floated (−20% to 30%) Floated at same time GBP was floated
1972 (Oct) US$1.52; R 1.19 — —
1973 (Feb) US$1.69 — USD devalued
1973 (Jun) US$1.773; R 1.19 — ZA Rand and R$ revalued against USD
1975 (Sep) US$1.60; R 1.34 — R$ devalued against USD and ZAR
1977 (Oct) US$1.50; R 1.30 (−69%) US$0.46; R 0.40 R$ devalued against USD and ZAR
1980 (Mar) — — Pegged to flexible basket (FRF, DEM, ZAR, CHF, GBP, USD)
1980 (Apr) — — Replacement by the Zimbabwean dollar Z$1 = R$1
1981 — — Rhodesian dollar demonetised under Statutory Instrument 378 of the Government of Zimbabwe

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Unpopular Sovereignty: Rhodesian Independence and African Decolonization, Luise White, University of Chicago Press, 2015, page 124
  2. ^ Linzmayer, Owen (2012). "Rhodesia". The Banknote Book. San Francisco, CA: BanknoteNews.com.
[edit]
Preceded by:
Rhodesian pound
Reason: decimalization
Ratio: 2 dollars = 1 pound 		Currency of Rhodesia
(Zimbabwe since 1980)
1970 – 1980 		Succeeded by:
Zimbabwean dollar
Reason: independence recognized
Ratio: at par
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rhodesian_dollar&oldid=1221846950"