Sudanese pound

The Sudanese pound (Arabic: جنيه سوداني Junaih Sudani) is the basic unit of the Republic of the Sudan. The pound consists of 100 piasters. The pound is issued by the Central Bank of Sudan. Its value is linked to gold and convertible into foreign currencies. There are no restrictions on money transfers to and from Sudan. The Sudanese pound is equivalent to $0.021. It has been pegged to the United States dollar since around 1984.

Sudanese pound
جنيه سوداني (in Arabic)
Current coins
ISO 4217
Code	SDG
Denominations
Subunit
1/100	qirsh (piastre)
Symbol	SDG, £SD or ج.س
Banknotes	2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 pounds
Coins	1, 5, 10, 20, 50 piasters, 1 pound
Demographics
User(s)	Sudan
Issuance
Central bank	Central Bank of Sudan
Website	www.cbos.gov.sd
Valuation
Inflation	16.9%
Source	https://www.xe.com/currency/sdg-sudanese-pound, 2016 est.

The pound fell for the first time since 1997 after the United States imposed economic sanctions on Sudan. The Sudanese pound continued its decline to an unprecedented number, falling to 53 pounds against the dollar. This situation, which drained all economic measures, led to heavy losses in the external repercussions of the Sudan as a whole, in the light of the government cut, interrupted by some of the failed actions announced by the Central Bank of Sudan, a severe shortage of liquidity.

The Sudanese pound fell against the US dollar after the Central Bank of Sudan announced the lifting of the cash reserve to counter inflation. Since the secession of South Sudan in 2011, Sudan has suffered from a scarcity of foreign exchange for the loss of three-quarters of its oil resources and 80% of foreign exchange resources. The Sudanese government quoted the official price of the dollar from 6.09 pounds to 18.07 pounds in the budget of 2018.

History

First pound (SDP)

The first pound to circulate in Sudan was the Egyptian pound. The late 19th-century rulers Muhammad ibn Abdalla (the Mahdi) and Abdallahi ibn Muhammad (the Khalifa) both issued coins which circulated alongside the Egyptian currency. When Anglo-Egyptian rule in Sudan ceased on January 1, 1956 and Sudan became an independent country, a distinct Sudanese currency (the Sudanese pound) was created, replacing the Egyptian pound at par.

The Egyptian pound was subdivided into 100 qirush (Arabic: قروش, singular qirsh, قرش, English: piastre). The qirsh used to be subdivided into 40 para, but decimalisation following the 1886 Egyptian currency reform established a 1/10 qirsh, which came to be known as a millim (ملّيمات, singular: ملّيم). Due to this legacy, the post 1956 Sudanese pound was divided into 100 qirush, subdivided into 10 millims.

During 1958-1978 the pound was pegged to the U.S. dollar at a rate of $2.87156 per Sudanese pound. Thereafter, the pound underwent successive devaluations.

The pound was replaced in 1992 by the dinar (SDD) at a rate of 1 dinar = 10 pounds. While the dinar circulated in northern Sudan, in Southern Sudan, prices were still negotiated in pounds, whilst in Rumbek and Yei, the Kenyan shilling was used and accepted more within the transport sectors as well as for hotels/accommodation.

Second pound (SDG)

According to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the government of the Republic of the Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, the Central Bank of Sudan (CBOS) shall adopt a program to issue a new currency as soon as is practical during the Interim Period. The design of the new currency shall reflect the cultural diversity of Sudan. Until a new currency has been issued with the approval of the Parties on the recommendations of the CBOS, the circulating currencies in Southern Sudan shall be recognised. The second pound began introduction on 9 or 10 January 2007, and became the only legal tender as of July 1, 2007.[1][2][3] It replaced the dinar at a rate of 1 pound = 100 dinars or 1 pound (SDG) = 1000 pounds (SDP).

Third pound

The third edition of the Sudanese pound was established on 24 July 2011 following the secession of South Sudan from the Republic of Sudan.[4][5]

For a wider history surrounding currency in the region, see The History of British Currency in the Middle East.

Coins

Local coinage in Sudan: issues of the Mahdi and Khalifa and of Darfur

In 1885, the Mahdi issued silver coins for 10 and 20 qirush and gold 100 qirush. These were followed by issues of the Khalifa in denominations of 10 para, 1, 2, 2½, 4, 5, 10 and 20 qirush. These coins were initially minted in silver in 1885. Over the following eleven years, severe debasement occurred, leading to billon, then silver-washed copper and finally copper coins being issued. The coinage ceased in 1897.

During 1908-1914, a local coinage was issued in Darfur in western Sudan. These were issued under the authority of Ali Dinar and resembled contemporary Egyptian coins.

First pound

In 1956, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 millim, 2, 5 and 10 qirush. The millim denominations were struck in bronze, whilst the qirush denominations were in cupro-nickel. The 2, 5 and 10 millim were scallop shaped, although a round 5 millim was introduced in 1971. The 1 and 2 millim were last struck in 1969, the last 5 millim in 1978. In 1983, brass 1, 2 and 5 qirush, a reduced size 10 qirush and a cupro-nickel 20 qirush were introduced. In 1987, aluminium-bronze 1, 5, 10, 20, 25 and 50 qirush and 1 pound were introduced, with the 25 and 50 qirush square and octagonal in shape, respectively. In 1989, stainless-steel 25 and 50 qirush and 1 pound were issued. This is the general pattern, in addition to these coins there are collector-oriented issues and various oddities. See popular coin catalogues for details.

Sudanese dinar

See Sudanese dinar.

Second pound

Coins in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 qirush were introduced alongside the circulating dinar coins. The Central Bank of Sudan states that the 5 qirush coins are yellow coloured (perhaps aluminium-bronze) and the 10 qirush is silver coloured (made of stainless steel). The 20 and 50 qirush coins are bi-metallic, with the 20 qirush yellow ringed with a silver coloured centre and the 50 qirush the opposite.

Banknotes

First pound

One-pound banknote, series 1987
Obverse	Reverse

In April 1957, the Sudan Currency Board introduced notes for 25 and 50 piastres, 1, 5 and 10 pounds.[6] Note production was taken over by the Bank of Sudan in 1961. 20-pound notes were introduced in 1981, followed by 50 pounds in 1984 and 100 pounds in 1988.[7] .

Sudanese dinar

When introduced on 8 June 1992, the Sudanese dinar replaced the first Sudanese pound at a rate of 1:10.[6]

Questionable new notes

In 2005, the National Public Radio of the United States reported that forces in Southern Sudan were printing pound notes bearing the name "Bank of New Sudan", but there is no such bank. In addition, numbers of the banknotes had duplicate serial numbers. Their legitimacy is questionable.[8][9][10][11]

Second pound

When introduced on 10 January 2007, the second Sudanese pound replaced the Sudanese dinar at a rate of 1:100. This new currency was mandated by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement to end the country’s 21- year civil war. Deputy Governor Badr-Eddin Mahmoud said the cost to print the new currency was US$156 million.[6] Banknotes of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 pounds were issued.[2] The 1-pound note was replaced by a coin at the end of November 2011.

Banknotes of the Sudanese pound (2006 issue)
Image	Value	Obverse	Reverse	Watermark	Date of issue
	1 Sudanese pound	Central Bank of Sudan building, Khartoum; Pigeon	Pigeons	Pigeon and electrotype LS 1	July 9, 2006
	2 Sudanese pounds	Pottery	Musical instruments	Pigeon and electrotype LS 2	July 9, 2006
	5 Sudanese pounds	Ornate wall; satellite	Hydroelectric dam	Pigeon and electrotype LS 5	July 9, 2006
	10 Sudanese pounds	Tree in Tabaldia, clasped hands, watusi cattle, mountains, and camel	People's Palace, Khartoum	Secretary bird and electrotype LS 10	July 9, 2006
	20 Sudanese pounds	Machinery; oil derricks	Factory; radio antenna; fruit (bananas, papayas, flowers, pineapples, citrus, grapes, corn)	Secretary bird and electrotype LS 20	July 9, 2006
	50 Sudanese pounds	Wildlife (rhinoceros, elephants, ape in tree, water buffalo, zebras, and giraffe)	Sheep, cow, goat, camels	Secretary bird and electrotype LS 50	July 9, 2006

Third Pound

Banknotes of the third pound are similar in style to those of the second pound but with changes in colour scheme, the removal of certain symbols associated with the south and a redrawn map of the country after the secession of the south.[12]

Banknotes of the Sudanese pound (2011 Modified colors issue)
Image	Value	Obverse	Reverse	Date of issue
	2 Sudanese pounds	Pottery	Musical instruments	June 2011
	5 Sudanese pounds	Ornate wall; satellite	Hydroelectric dam	June 2011
	10 Sudanese pounds	Tree in Tabaldia, clasped hands, mountains, and camel	People's Palace, Khartoum	June 2011
	20 Sudanese pounds	Machinery; oil derricks	Factory; radio antenna; fruit (bananas, papayas, flowers, pineapples, citrus, grapes, corn)	June 2011
	50 Sudanese pounds	Wildlife (rhinoceros, elephants, ape in tree, water buffalo, zebras, and giraffe)	Sheep, cow, goat, camels	June 2011
	50 Sudanese pounds	Headquarters of the Central Bank of Sudan, standard gold bars of 400 oz. (12.4 kg), map of Sudan	Fishing boats, Camels	April 2018
	100 Sudanese pounds	Pyramids of Meroë	Meroë hydroelectric dam	January 2019
	200 Sudanese pounds	Wildlife	Red Sea underwater fauna	February 2019
	200 Sudanese pounds	Modern building, huts	People with blackboard	August 2019
	500 Sudanese pounds	Satellite dishes, National Telecommunications Corporation (NTC) Tower, Khartoum	Refinery	March 2019

New banknotes

On 1 January 2019, the Central Bank of Sudan announced Sudanese pound banknotes of 100, 200 and 500 will be released this month as the country grapples with a severe economic crisis and cash shortage.[13]

A new 100 Sudanese pounds banknote was unveiled on 28 January 2019 by the Central Bank of Sudan.[14]

A new 200 Sudanese pounds banknote was unveiled on 5 February 2019 by the Central Bank of Sudan.[15]

A new 500 Sudanese pounds banknote dated March 2019 was issued in 2019.

Current SDG exchange rates
From Google Finance:	AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From Yahoo! Finance:	AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From XE.com:	AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From OANDA:	AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From fxtop.com:	AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD

See also

• Economy of South Sudan
• Economy of Sudan

References

1. "New Sudan currency to circulate from January 10". Reuters – AlertNet. 8 January 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2007.
2. Bank of Sudan. "The new Sudanese currency". Archived from the original on 4 January 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2007. The new currency shall start circulation on January 9th.
3. Sudan Vision Daily (16 February 2006). "Peace: The Presidency of the Republic: Implementation of the CPA in the Year 2005". Archived from the original on 18 November 2006. Retrieved 19 July 2006.
4. http://www.newsday.com/business/sudan-rolls-out-new-currency-after-separation-1.3047946
5. "Sudan launches a new currency, following South Sudan". BBC News. 24 July 2011.
6. Linzmayer, Owen (2013). "Sudan". The Banknote Book. San Francisco, CA: www.BanknoteNews.com.
7. http://www.islamicbanknotes.com/
8. National Public Radio, USA (31 May 2005). "Photo of some of the 200 pound notes". Retrieved 19 July 2006.
9. National Public Radio, USA (31 May 2005). "Peace Also Brings New Currency to Southern Sudan". Retrieved 19 July 2006.
10. New Sudan high denomination notes sought. Banknote News. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
11. The Elusive Banknotes of New Sudan, Peter Symes, pjsymes.com.au. January 2011. Retrieved on 2014-03-09.
12. http://www.albawaba.com/north-sudan-launches-new-currency-economically-troubled-waters-384581
13. "Sudan to release new banknotes in mid-January". Anadolu Agency. 2 January 2019.
14. "New SDG 100 Security Features". Central Bank of Sudan. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
15. "Sudan new 200-pound note (B414a) confirmed". Banknote news. Retrieved 5 February 2019.

External links

• Sudan launches new pound
• The banknotes of Sudan (Sudanese pound) (in English and German)
• The banknotes of Sudan (Sudanese dinar) (in English and German)

1st Sudanese pound

Preceded by: Egyptian pound Reason: independence (in 1956) Ratio: at par	Currency of Sudan 1957 – June 8, 1992	Succeeded by: Sudanese dinar Location: Northern Sudan Reason: inflation Ratio: 1 dinar = 10 (1st) pounds
		Currency of Southern Sudan 1992 – January 2007 Note: see Second Sudanese Civil War	Succeeded by: 2nd Sudanese pound Location: Southern Sudan Reason: currency unification (peace treaty) Ratio: 1 (2nd) pound = 1,000 (1st) pounds

2nd Sudanese pound

Preceded by: Sudanese dinar Location: Northern Sudan Reason: inflation and currency unification (peace treaty) Ratio: 1 (2nd) pound = 100 dinars	Currency of Sudan January 2007 – 2011	Succeeded by: Third Sudanese pound Location: (North) Sudan Reason: independence of South Sudan Ratio: at par Note: same ISO code with second pound
Preceded by: 1st Sudanese pound Location: Southern Sudan Reason: currency unification (peace treaty) Ratio: 1 (2nd) pound = 1,000 (1st) pounds		Succeeded by: South Sudanese pound Location: South Sudan Reason: independence of South Sudan Ratio: at par