Tunisia coinage: 1960-1983
under President Habib Bourguiba
 
Currency: Tunisian Dinar (TND) = 1000 milim (millimes).
The dinar was introduced in 1960, having been established as a unit of account in 1958. It replaced the franc at a rate of 1000 francs = 1 dinar. The dinar did not follow the devaluation of the French franc in 1958, resulting in the exchange rate being abandoned. Instead a peg to the United States dollar of 0.42 dinar = 1 dollar was established which was maintained until 1964, when the dinar devalued to 0.525 dinar = 1 dollar. This second rate was held until the dollar was devalued in 1971. The dinar (Arabic: دينار‎, ISO 4217 currency code: TND) is the currency of Tunisia. It is subdivided into 1000 milim or millimes (مليم). The abbreviation DT is often used in Tunisia, although writing "dinar" after the amount is also acceptable (TND is less colloquial, and tends to be used more in financial circles).
In 1960, aluminum 1, 2 and 5 milim and brass 10, 20, 50 and 100 milim coins were introduced. The 1 and 2 milim were last issued in 1980 and 1983 respectively, and are no longer legal tender. In 1968, nickel ½ dinar coins were introduced, replaced by smaller, cupro-nickel pieces in 1976, when cupro-nickel 1 dinar coins were also introduced. Bimetallic 5 dinar coins were introduced in 2002.
Tunisians sometimes do not use the main division, dinar, when mentioning prices of goods. Accordingly, one dinar and a half, is often referred to as khomstach en miya (literally fifteen hundred). This applies to all prices below 2 dinars. 50 dinar is often referred to as khamsin alf (fifty thousand). This convention is used even for higher prices, for example 70,000 dinars would be called sab'in maliun (seventy million). "Francs" is also still heard from time to time, 1000 of them colloquially representing a single dinar. It is a criminal offence in Tunisia to import or export dinar. Every year, each citizen can convert into foreign currency up to 6,000 Tunisian dinars before departure from the country. It is necessary for anyone coming and leaving Tunisia to declare any cash in their possession.
 
1960
 

KM#280 1 millim. Year: 1960. Weight: 0.70g [0.65g]. Metal: Aluminum. Diameter: 18.00 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Coin. Mint: N/A. Obverse: "البنك المركزي التونسي" (Central Bank of Tunisia) in Arabic at the top. Oak tree in the center. Date at the bottom. Reverse: Numeral "1" value in center with sprigs on both sides. "ميليم واحد" (One Millim) at the bottom. Mintage: N/A. Minted Years: One year type.

KM#281 2 millim. Year: 1960. Weight: 1.06g [1.00g]. Metal: Aluminum. Diameter: 21.00 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Coin. Mint: N/A. Obverse: "البنك المركزي التونسي" (Central Bank of Tunisia) in Arabic at the top. Oak tree in the center. Date at the bottom. Reverse: Numeral "2" value in center with sprigs on both sides. "مليمان" (Two Millim) at the bottom. Mintage: N/A. Minted Years: One year type.

KM#282 5 millim. Year: 1960. Weight: 1.50g [1.50g]. Metal: Aluminum. Diameter: 24.00 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Coin. Mint: N/A. Obverse: "البنك المركزي التونسي" (Central Bank of Tunisia) in Arabic at the top. Oak tree in the center. Date at the bottom. Reverse: Numeral "5" value in center with sprigs on both sides. "خمسة مليمات" (Five Millim) at the bottom. Mintage: N/A. Minted Years: 1960, 1983, 1993 and 1996.

KM#306.1 10 millim. Year: 1960 - AH1380. Weight: 3.49g [3.50g]. Metal: Brass. Diameter: 19.00 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Coin. Mint: N/A. Obverse: "البنك المركزي التونسي" (Central Bank of Tunisia) in Arabic and Dates within center circle, surrounded by design. Reverse: Numeral "10" value with "عشرة مليمات" (Ten Millim) in the center, surrounded by design. Mintage: N/A. Minted Years: 1960-AH1380, 1993-AH1414, 1996-AH1416, 1997-AH1418, 2005-AH1426 and 2008-AH1429.

KM#307.1 20 millim. Year: 1960 - AH1380. Weight: 4.31g [4.50g]. Metal: Brass. Diameter: 22.00 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Coin. Mint: N/A. Obverse: "البنك المركزي التونسي" (Central Bank of Tunisia) in Arabic and Dates within center circle, surrounded by design. Reverse: Numeral "20" value with "عشرون مليما" (Twenty Millim) in the center, surrounded by design. Mintage: N/A. Minted Years: 1960-AH1380, 1983-AH1403, 1993-AH1414, 1996-AH1416, 1997-AH1418 and 2005-AH1426.

KM#308.1 50 millim. Year: 1960 - AH1380. Weight: 6.01g [6.00g]. Metal: Brass. Diameter: 25.00 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Coin. Mint: N/A. Obverse: "البنك المركزي التونسي" (Central Bank of Tunisia) in Arabic and Dates within center circle, surrounded by design. Reverse: Numeral "50" value with "خمسين مليما" (Fifty Millim) in the center, surrounded by design. Mintage: N/A. Minted Years: 1960-AH1380, 1983-AH1403, 1993-AH1414, 1996-AH1416, 1997-AH1418, 2005-AH1426, 2007-AH1428 and 2009-AH1430.

KM#309 100 millim. Year: 1960 - AH1380. Weight: 7.44g [7.50g]. Metal: Brass. Diameter: 27.00 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Coin. Mint: N/A. Obverse: "البنك المركزي التونسي" (Central Bank of Tunisia) in Arabic and Dates within center circle, surrounded by design. Reverse: Numeral "100" value with "مائة ميليم" (Hundred Millim) in the center, surrounded by design. Mintage: N/A. Minted Years: 1960-AH1380, 1983-AH1403, 1993-AH1414, 1996-AH1416, 1997-AH1418, 2000-AH1421, 2005-AH1426, 2008-AH1429, 2011-AH1432, 2013-AH1434 and 2018-AH1439.
 
1968
 

E#32 of KM#291 (below coin) 1/2 Dinar. Year: 1968. Weight: 11.88g [12.00g]. Metal: Nickel. Mintage: 1,260.

Note: "ESSAI" written on the border of reverse side behind the head of Habib Bourguiba.

KM#291 1/2 Dinar. Year: 1968. Weight: 11.88g [12.00g]. Metal: Nickel. Diameter: 28.50 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Coin. Mint: Paris. Obverse: "البنك المركزي التونسي" (Central Bank of Tunisia) in Arabic on the top. Numeral "1/2" value in center divided by "نصف دينار" (Half Dinar). Date at the bottom. Reverse: "الحبيب بورقيبة" (Habib Bourguiba) at the top with his portrait in the center, facing left. "رئيس الجمهورية التونسية" (President of Republic of Tunisia) written at the bottom. "R. CORBIN" designer's name below his head. Mintage: 500,000. Minted Years: One year type.

 
1970
 

KM#302 1 Dinar. Year: 1970. Weight: 18.02g [18.00g]. Metal: 0.680 Silver. Diameter: 32.00 mm. Edge: Plain. Alignment: Coin. Mint: Paris. Obverse: "الحبيب بورقيبة" and Habib Bourguiba written in Arabic and French at the top with his portrait in the center, facing left. "رئيس الجمهورية التونسية" (President of Republic of Tunisia) and "Président de la République de Tunisie" written in Arabic and French at the bottom. Date below his head with Paris mint marks. Reverse:  "abundant harvest live prosperous" in Arabic at the top. "دينار واحد" written on right side anti-clockwise.  "ONE DINAR" written on left side clockwise. "RECOLTE ABONDANTE VIS PROSPERE" at the bottom. Oxen and a framer climbing a coconut tree with tractor in the background at left. "ELMEKKI.DEL" and "GORBIN SC." designer's names at the base of oxen. Mintage: 100,000 + 1,250 Proof. Minted Years: One yeatr type.
 
1976
 

KM#303 1/2 Dinar. Year: 1976. Weight: 7.70g [8.00g]. Metal: Copper-Nickel. Diameter: 24.00 mm. Edge: Plain. Alignment: Coin. Mint: N/A. Obverse: "الحبيب بورقيبة" (Habib Bourguiba) at the top with his portrait in the center, facing left. "رئيس الجمهورية التونسية" (President of Republic of Tunisia) written at the bottom. Date below his head. Reverse:  "البنك المركزي التونسي" (Central Bank of Tunisia) in Arabic on the top. Two hands holding one wheat stack and three fruits. Numeral "1/2" value at the bottom divided by "نصف دينار" (Half Dinar). "ELMEKKI" designer's name near the palm of lower hand. Mintage: 700,000. Minted Years: 1976 and 1983.

Same as above coin with large designer's name. Weight: 7.97g [8.00g].

KM#304 1 Dinar. Year: 1976. Weight: 10.00g [10.00g]. Metal: Copper-Nickel. Diameter: 28.00 mm. Edge: Plain. Alignment: Coin. Mint: N/A. Obverse: "الحبيب بورقيبة" (Habib Bourguiba) at the top with his portrait in the center, facing left. "رئيس الجمهورية التونسية" (President of Republic of Tunisia) written at the bottom. Date below his head. Reverse:  "البنك المركزي التونسي" (Central Bank of Tunisia) in Arabic on the top. A female touching branches of a tree with farm and a tractor in the background. Numeral "1" value at the bottom divided by "دينار واحد" (One Dinar). "ELMEKKI" designer's name at tractor's wheel. Mintage: 12,000,000. Minted Years: 1976 and 1983.

Note: Varieties exits. This 1 Dinar coin dated 1976 has dots below iya of Tunisiya.

Same as above coin but without below dots (error) below iy of Tunisiya. Weight: 9.85g [10.00g].
 
1983 - AH1403
 

Note: 1983 brass coins, varieties exist with normal and large dates on 10, 20, 50 and 100 Millim. I still have not seen any 10 Millim 1403/1983 - has anyone else seen any ? This points towards the possibility of the large dates pieces having been made by one mint and the small dates pieces having been made by a second mint. Secondly bright and non-bright coins also exists in both large and small dates. Large date have a relatively large position of digit sizes and the "1" in "1403" has tilted stroke above it, while the smaller date has a straight "1" in "1403" at the top. Small date type is on the left side and Large date type is on the right side of above image for comparsion.
 

KM#282 5 millim. Year: 1983. Weight: 1.52g [1.50g]. Metal: Aluminum. Diameter: 24.00 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Coin. Mint: N/A. Obverse: "البنك المركزي التونسي" (Central Bank of Tunisia) in Arabic at the top. Oak tree in the center. Date at the bottom. Reverse: Numeral "5" value in center with sprigs on both sides. "خمسة مليمات" (Five Millim) at the bottom. Mintage: N/A. Minted Years: 1960, 1983, 1993 and 1996.

KM#307.1 20 millim. Year: 1983 - AH1403. Weight: 4.47g [4.50g]. Metal: Brass. Diameter: 22.00 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Coin. Mint: N/A. Obverse: "البنك المركزي التونسي" (Central Bank of Tunisia) in Arabic and Dates within center circle, surrounded by design. Reverse: Numeral "20" value with "عشرون مليما" (Twenty Millim) in the center, surrounded by design. Mintage: N/A. Minted Years: 1960-AH1380, 1983-AH1403, 1993-AH1414, 1996-AH1416, 1997-AH1418 and 2005-AH1426.

Same as above coin but having large date. Large date have a relative position of digit sizes and the "1" in "1403" has tilted stroke above it.

Weight: 4.47g [4.50g].

KM#308.1 50 millim. Year: 1983 - AH1403. Weight: 5.74g [6.00g]. Metal: Brass. Diameter: 25.00 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Coin. Mint: N/A. Obverse: "البنك المركزي التونسي" (Central Bank of Tunisia) in Arabic and Dates within center circle, surrounded by design. Reverse: Numeral "50" value with "خمسين مليما" (Fifty Millim) in the center, surrounded by design. Mintage: N/A. Minted Years: 1960-AH1380, 1983-AH1403, 1993-AH1414, 1996-AH1416, 1997-AH1418, 2005-AH1426, 2007-AH1428 and 2009-AH1430.

Same as above coin but having large date. Large date have a relative position of digit sizes and the "1" in "1403" has tilted stroke above it.

Weight: 5.79g [6.00g].

KM#309 100 millim. Year: 1983 - AH1403. Weight: 7.53g [7.50g]. Metal: Brass. Diameter: 27.00 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Coin. Mint: N/A. Obverse: "البنك المركزي التونسي" (Central Bank of Tunisia) in Arabic and Dates within center circle, surrounded by design. Reverse: Numeral "100" value with "مائة ميليم" (Hundred Millim) in the center, surrounded by design. Mintage: N/A. Minted Years: 1960-AH1380, 1983-AH1403, 1993-AH1414, 1996-AH1416, 1997-AH1418, 2000-AH1421, 2005-AH1426, 2008-AH1429, 2011-AH1432, 2013-AH1434 and 2018-AH1439.

Same as above coin but having large date. Large date have a relative position of digit sizes and the "1" in "1403" has tilted stroke above it.

Weight: 7.33g [7.50g].

KM#303 1/2 Dinar. Year: 1983. Weight: 7.98g [8.00g]. Metal: Copper-Nickel. Diameter: 24.00 mm. Edge: Plain. Alignment: Coin. Mint: N/A. Obverse: "الحبيب بورقيبة" (Habib Bourguiba) at the top with his portrait in the center, facing left. "رئيس الجمهورية التونسية" (President of Republic of Tunisia) written at the bottom. Date below his head. Reverse:  "البنك المركزي التونسي" (Central Bank of Tunisia) in Arabic on the top. Two hands holding one wheat stack and three fruits. Numeral "1/2" value at the bottom divided by "نصف دينار" (Half Dinar). "ELMEKKI" designer's name near the palm of lower hand. Mintage: 400,000. Minted Years: 1976 and 1983.

KM#304 1 Dinar. Year: 1983. Weight: 10.02g [10.00g]. Metal: Copper-Nickel. Diameter: 28.00 mm. Edge: Plain. Alignment: Coin. Mint: N/A. Obverse: "الحبيب بورقيبة" (Habib Bourguiba) at the top with his portrait in the center, facing left. "رئيس الجمهورية التونسية" (President of Republic of Tunisia) written at the bottom. Date below his head. Reverse:  "البنك المركزي التونسي" (Central Bank of Tunisia) in Arabic on the top. A female touching branches of a tree with farm and a tractor in the background. Numeral "1" value at the bottom divided by "دينار واحد" (One Dinar). "ELMEKKI" designer's name at tractor's wheel. Mintage: 4,000,000. Minted Years: 1976 and 1983.
 
Coinage of Tunisia are listed under below links:
 
 
Countries / Territories
 
Chiefa Coins