Somali shilling
1812187
222285063
2008-06-28T14:40:21Z
193.109.95.28
{{Infobox Currency
| currency_name_in_local = shilin soomaali <small>{{so icon}}</small>
| iso_code = SOS
| image_1 = SOM003.JPG
| image_title_1 = 10 senti coin of 1976
| using_countries = [[Somalia]]
| inflation_rate =
| inflation_source_date =
| symbol = So. Sh.
| used_coins = 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 shillings
| used_banknotes = 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 shillings
| issuing_authority = [[Central Bank of Somalia]]
| issuing_authority_website = cbsom.org/
}}
{{Culture of Somalia}}
The '''shilling''' ([[English language|English]]), '''shilin''' ([[Somali language|Somali]], also شلن) or '''scellino''' ([[Italian language|Italian]]) has been the [[currency]] of [[Somalia]] since 1962. The [[ISO 4217]] code is ''SOS''. It is subdivided into 100 ''cents'' (English), ''senti'' (Somali, also سنت) or ''centesimi'' (Italian).
==History==
The shilling has been the currency of parts of Somalia since [[1921]], when the [[East African shilling]] was introduced to [[British Somaliland]]. In 1962 (following independence in 1960), the [[Somali somalo|somalo]] of [[Italian Somaliland]] and the East African shilling (which were equal in value) were replaced at par by the Somali shilling. Names used for the denominations were cent, centesimo (plural: centesimi) and سنت (plurals: سنتيمات and سنتيما) together with shilling, scellino (plural: scellini) and شلن.
Starting in 1975, [[Somali language|Somali]] names written in the [[Latin alphabet]] were introduced: shilin and sent, with the name for the subunit in the [[Arabic script]] reduced to سنت. The Italian names disappeared at this time and the English names only persisting on the banknotes. The Italian name scellino reappeared on some of coins in 2000. The spelling of the subunit today remains unknown as no coins of less than 1 shilling have been issued recently.
Following the breakdown of central government, the breakaway region of [[Somaliland]] has issued a currency, the [[Somaliland shilling]]. Other regional currencies as well as the [[United States dollar|U.S. dollar]] and [[euro]] also circulate.
==Coins==
Initially, coins of the East African shilling and somalo circulated. In 1967, coins were issued in the name of the Somali Republic in denominations of 5, 10 and 50 cents/centesimi and 1 shilling/scellino. In 1976, when the Somali names for the denominations were introduced, coins were issued in the name of the Democratic Republic of Somalia for 5, 10 and 50 senti and 1 shiling.
Since 2000, coins in denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 shillings have been issued in the name of the Republic of Somalia. However, this issue of coins has never been in circulation inside Somalia, and it is unclear by who it has been produced as there have been no governmental authorities anymore since 1991. The legends on these coins are written in the colonization languages english and italian, despite the fact that the official languages of Somalia are [[somali]] and [[arabic]]. Most have been issued as commemorative coins such as the [[Chinese astrology]] series or as part of the F.A.O. issue.
==Banknotes==
In 1962, the ''Banca Nazionale Somala'' issued notes for 5, 10, 20 and 100 scellini/shillings. In 1975, the ''Bankiga Qaranka Soomaaliyeed'' (Somali National Bank) introduced notes for 5, 10, 20 and 100 shilin/shillings. These were followed in 1978 by notes of the same denominations issued by the ''Bankiga Dhexe Ee Soomaaliya'' (Central Bank of Somalia). 50 shilin/shillings notes were introduced in 1983, followed by 500 shilin/shillings in 1989 and 1000 shilin/shillings in 1990.
The situation of the currency in Somalia is unknown, but as in [[Afghanistan]] before 2002, banknotes of the old issue of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 shilling are probably being produced without honouring the [[serial number]]s. In the south, only the 1000 shilin note remains in circulation today. All other denominations having disappeared. In the more peaceful, northern areas of the country, the 500 shilin note can also still be seen in circulation.{{Fact|date=April 2007}}
==Historical exchange rates==
Free market rates in southern Somalia:
2000 SOS/USD in June 1991
5000 SOS/USD in June 1993
13,400 SOS/USD in March 2006
15,000 SOS/USD in February 2007
25,000 SOS/USD in March 2008 <ref>http://africa.reuters.com/business/news/usnBAN946551.html Reuters Africa 2008/03/19 Accessed 2008/04/09</ref>
==See also==
* [[Economy of Somalia]]
==References==
{{refbegin}}
*[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/so.html CIA World Factbook - ''Somalia'']
*{{cite web | author=Peter Symes | date=December 2005 | url=http://www.pjsymes.com.au/articles/somalia(part4).htm | title=The Banknotes of Somalia – Part 4 | accessdate=2006-11-03}}
*{{numis cite SCWC | date=1991}}
*{{numis cite SCWPM | date=1994}}
{{refend}}
==Notes==
<references/>
==External links==
{{Standard numismatics external links
| world_coin_gallery_1_url = Somalia
| world_coin_gallery_1_name = Somalia
| banknote_world_1_url = somalia
| banknote_world_1_name = Somalia
| dollarization_1_url = so
| dollarization_1_name = Somalia
| gfd_1_url = Somalia
| gfd_1_name = Somalia
| gfd_data_1_url = 5597
| gfd_data_1_name = Somalia Shilling
| show_gfd_excel = Y
}}
*[http://www.somalism.com/money.html Gallery of old and new Somali Banknotes]
*[http://www.islamicbanknotes.com/somalia.htm Somalia at Islamic Banknotes]
*[http://www.wbcc.fsnet.co.uk/af-sol.htm Somaliland]
{{n-start}}
{{n-before|currency=[[Italian Somaliland somalo]]|location=[[Italian Somaliland]]|reason=independence and merging of [[British Somaliland]] and [[Italian Somaliland]]|ratio=at par}}
{{n-currency|rowspan=2|location=[[Somalia]]|start=[[1962]]|end=[[1991]]|note=the shilling was made the unit of account shortly after independence in [[1960]]}}
{{n-currency|location=[[Somalia]]|start=[[1991]]}}
{{n-after}}
{{n-before|currency=[[East African shilling]]|location=[[British Somaliland]]|reason=independence and merging of [[British Somaliland]] and [[Italian Somaliland]]|ratio=at par}}
{{n-currency|location=[[Somaliland]]|start=[[1991]]|end=[[1994]]}}
{{n-after|currency=[[Somaliland shilling]]|reason=currency independence|note=Somaliland is not widely recognized|ratio=1 Somaliland shilling = 100 Somali shillings = 1/50 [[United States dollar]]}}
{{n-end}}
{{Historical currencies of Somaliland}}
{{Currencies of Africa}}
[[Category:Economy of Somalia]]
[[be-x-old:Самалійскі шылінг]]
[[ca:Xíling somali]]
[[de:Somalia-Schilling]]
[[es:Chelín somalí]]
[[fr:Shilling somali]]
[[ko:소말리아 실링]]
[[bpy:সোমালি শিলিং]]
[[it:Scellino somalo]]
[[hu:Szomáliai shilling]]
[[nl:Somalische shilling]]
[[ja:ソマリア・シリング]]
[[pl:Szyling somalijski]]
[[so:Shilin Soomaali]]
[[fi:Somalian šillinki]]
[[tg:Шиллинги Сомалӣ]]