Does anybody know of any current countries whose monetary system is non-decimal, besides Madagascar

ajaan

Anyone know?

tonyhar

This seems to be the same question as one on the CCRS site.

ajaan

Yes, I know. I was wondering if anyone here who doesn't visit the CCRS knows of any countries.

Aethelred

Is this a trick?

ajaan

<< <i>Is this a trick? >>


No.

bosox

Of course, much of the new world was once on the octal (base 8) system with pieces of eight, or reales.

Sapyx

There are plenty of currencies which, while being theoretically decimal, are in practice a unitary system, not having any divisions at all. The CFA (French Africa) and CFP (French Pacific) francs come to mind; while theoretically being 100 centimes to the franc, no coins denominated in centimes have been issued for decades. Other countries which have experienced serious inflation in recent years (such as many of the the former Soviet republics) also qualify as "theoretically decimal, practically unitary".

Other countries have a purely unitary currency. Vanuatu, for example, which was known as New Hebrides and used the CFP franc prior to independence, now uses a unitary currency, the vatu. It does not have, and never has had, any multiples or divisions. Coins and notes are issued on a "decimal scaling", eg. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and so forth, but as it is not actually divided or multiplied by 10 to make new units, it cannot technically be regarded as decimal.

goossen

<< <i>There are plenty of currencies which, while being theoretically decimal, are in practice a unitary system, not having any divisions at all. (...) >>



Here in Paraguay 1 Guarani = 100 Centimos.

Last Centimos where issued in 1953; and right now our lowest circulating denomination is 50 Guaranies.

goossen

And what about the currencies divided on 1,000 pieces?

satootoko

<< <i>There are plenty of currencies which, while being theoretically decimal, are in practice a unitary system, not having any divisions at all. >>

A very good point!

Theoretically both the US and Japan have three-place decimal systems, but the US has never minted a coin denominated in mills. Japan phased out fractionals between 1892 and 1948. They stopped minting rin (1/10 sen) in 1892, 1/2 sen/5 rin in 1920, 1, 5, 10 and 20 sen at the close of WW II, and the 50 sen in 1949.