Time Period: 1834- (AH1249-)

Currency: Egyptian Pound


Timeline

  • 09.04.1834
  • AH:29.11.1249
  • Khedival decree on the creation of a bimetallic currency with silver coins on the basis of the Maria Theresa Thaler; effective immediately (?)
  • 14.04.1836
  • AH:27.12.1251
  • Start of currency exchange:
    - ??.12.1835: Coinage act for the implementation of the currency reform
    - 14.04.1836: Start of issuance of the new coins
    - Pre-reform coins were not demonetized but gradually exchanged at weight
    - Maria Theresia Thaler circulated as 20 Piastres
  • ??.??.1864
  • Coinage law (?) to change to the French franc standard at the ratio of 10 piastres Parisi = 2½ francs; was not implemented.
  • 15.02.1859
  • Rating of foreign gold and silver coins in circulation:
    - British Sovereign (AU) at 97.5 Piastres
    - Spanish Dollar (AG) at 20.7 Piastres
    - 5 French Francs (AG) at 19.25 Piastres
  • around 1864
  • Issuance of silver coins produced by the Paris mint with different weight and fineness (10 Piastres of 12.500 grams silver 0.900 instead of 13.975 grams silver 0.833); the so-called "parisi" coins were not accepted got discounted in the market (at about 10 Piastres "parisi" = 8.75 Piastres)
  • 17.11.1885
  • AH:09.02.1303
  • Khedival decree on the switch to the gold standard; effective immediately (?)
  • 19.03.1887
  • Ordinance on the demonetization of all foreign silver coins (including the Maria Theresia Thalers) and rating of foreign gold coins:
    - British Sovereign at 97.5 Piastres
    - 20 French Francs at 77.15 Piastres
    - Turkish Lira at 87.75 Piastres
  • 18.10.1916
  • Coinage Law [No. 25], introduces the denomination "Millieme" on subsidiary coins (replacing the denomination "tenths of a Piastres"); effective immediately (?)

Valuation Regimes

  • 1834-1885
  • Metallic currency based on circulating gold and silver coins. Base weight is the Egyptian oka / / 400 dirham / 4 kirat at 1'235.36 grams.
  • 1885-1914
  • Fixed rate against gold, standard was suspended on 02.08.1914
  • 1914-1926
  • Fixed rate against British Pound
  • 1926-1931
  • Fixed rate against gold, standard was suspended on 26.09.1931
  • 1931-1962
  • Fixed rate against British Pound
  • 1962-1987
  • Fixed rate against US Dollar
  • 1987-
  • Variable rate

Rate Arrangements

  • 09.04.1834
  • Metallic
  • Pound: 7'486.61mg AU fine & 116'458.42mg AG fine
  • 100 Piastres at 93956 Egyptian kirat fine gold (?) und 20 Piastres at 3016 Egyptian kirat fine silver (?) => AU : AG = 15.555
  • 17.11.1885
  • Fixed
  • [Gold parity] 7'437.50mg AU fine
  • -
  • 02.08.1914
  • Fixed
  • British Pound at 0.975 : 1
  • -
  • 01.01.1926
  • Fixed
  • [Gold parity] 7'437.50mg AU fine
  • -
  • 26.09.1931
  • Fixed
  • British Pound at 0.975 : 1 - [Gold parity (18.12.1946)] 3'673.17mg AU fine
  • -
  • 18.09.1949
  • Fixed
  • British Pound at 0.975 : 1 - [Gold parity] 2'552.08mg AU fine
  • ±0.0%
  • 07.05.1962
  • Fixed
  • US Dollar at 1 : 0.43
  • -19.9%
  • 26.02.1973
  • Fixed
  • US Dollar at 1 : 0.39
  • +11.1%
  • 01.01.1979
  • Fixed
  • US Dollar at 1 : 0.70
  • -44.1%
  • 01.08.1981
  • Fixed
  • US Dollar at 1 : 0.83 (Commercial Bank Rate)
  • -16.0%
  • 24.07.1986
  • Fixed
  • US Dollar at 1 : 1.37 (Bank Exchange Rate)
  • -39.3%
  • 11.05.1987
  • Variable
  • initially: US Dollar at 1 : 2.17 (Bank Market Rate)
  • -36.7%


End-year Forex Rates (Units per US Dollar)