Themetical (/ˈmɛtɪˌkæl/;[2] plural:meticais) is thecurrency ofMozambique, abbreviated with the symbolMZN orMT. It is nominally divided into 100 centavos. The namemetical comes from Arabicمثقال (mithqāl),[3] a unit of weight and an alternative name for thegold dinar coin that was used throughout much of Africa until the 19th century.[4]
The metical (MZM) replaced theescudo at par on 16 June 1980.[5][6] The metical was announced bySamora Machel on 15 June 1980 at 8pm, and was officially introduced the next day, which was also the 20th anniversary of theMueda massacre.
Machel saw the introduction of the metical as a matter of patriotic importance; it represented the elimination ofPortuguese colonialism in Mozambique and positively reflected on the efforts of those who fought against colonial rule in the country. Machel told the public that the new coins and banknotes celebrated theworking class andpeasantry, the Popular Forces for the Liberation of Mozambique (FPLM, now theMozambique Defence Armed Forces), and the heroic people of Mozambique.[6] When asked why a new national currency was only now being implemented after five years of independence, Machel emphasised the importance of theBank of Mozambique and how it had to establish itself as the centre of commerce in the nation before a new currency could be introduced. Machel stated that the introduction of the metical was only one step in planning for the future of Mozambique, and encouraged the people of Mozambique to work hard, befrugal, share inausterity and guard themselves from negligence and wastefulness in order to further the Mozambican economy.[6] Machel ended his speech with a call to action:
"Let us make the creation of the Metical a moment of popular mobilization. A moment of our full engagement in the battle for victory against underdevelopment, the elimination of hunger, nakedness, poverty, illiteracy and the triumph ofsocialism in our dear country. Let the creation of the Metical be a time of joy and popular celebration, expressing our patriotic feelings, for this historic achievement of our people. The struggle continues! Revolution will win! Socialism will triumph!"[6]
The metical was divided into 100centavos. It underwent severeinflation. After the revaluation of theRomanian leu on 1 July 2005, the metical briefly became the least valued currency unit, at a value of about 24,500 meticais per USD, until theZimbabwean dollar took the title in late August 2005.
On 1 July 2006, Mozambique redenominated the metical at a rate of 1000:1. The newISO 4217 code isMZN. New coins and banknotes were introduced on 1 July 2006, and the transitional period during which both old and new meticais could be used lasted until 31 December 2006. During the conversion, the new currency was locally abbreviated as MTn, but has since largely returned to MT.
Old meticais were redeemed by the Bank of Mozambique for a period of six years, until 31 December 2012.
In 1980, coins were introduced in denominations of 50 centavos, 1,2+1⁄2, 5, 10 and 20 meticais. The 50 centavos,2+1⁄2 and 5 meticais were minted in aluminium, with the 1 metical in brass and the 10 and 20 meticais in cupro-nickel. In 1986, aluminium 1, 10, 20 and 50 meticais were introduced. A new coinage issued in 1994 was composed of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 meticais, with the lower four denominations in brass clad steel and the higher denominations in nickel clad steel. 5000 meticais coins were introduced in 1998, followed by 10,000 meticais in 2003.
The First Metical had three issues of notes as follows:i. In 1980 (16 June 1980), notes were introduced in denominations of 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 meticais.ii The same notes and denominations were reissued in 1983 (16 June 1983) with the new state logo, 5,000 meticais notes were introduced in 1989 (3 February 1989).iii. In 1991 (16 June 1991) 500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 notes were issued followed by 50,000 and 100,000 meticais in 1993 (16 June 1993), 20,000 meticais in 1999 (16 June 1999) and 200,000 and 500,000 meticais in 2003 (16 June 2003).
From 1 July 2006, new banknotes were issued in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 meticais.[7] On 1 October 2011,Banco de Moçambique has issued a new family of banknotes that are similar to the 2006 series, but with enhanced security features. The three smaller denominations are now printed on polymer while the higher denominations remain printed on paper. The higher denominated metical banknotes are printed byDe La Rue.[8][9][10][11]
Banknotes of the Mozambican metical (16 June 2006 "Samora Machel" Issue)
Mozambique will introduce a new series of metical notes and coins from June 16, 2024, which will progressively replace those that have been in circulation since 2006, the central bank governor announced on May 17th.[10]
Banknotes of the Mozambican metical (16 June 2024 "Samora Machel" Issue)[11]
image
value
obverse
reverse
20 meticais
Samora Moisés Machel
stick figures; plant, tree, mountains; bird on branch
50 meticais
Samora Moisés Machel
stick figures; wildlife; antelope
100 meticais
Samora Moisés Machel
stick figures; baskets of vegetables and fruit
200 meticais
Samora Moisés Machel
stick figures; reclining lioness with cubs and standing lion
500 meticais
Samora Moisés Machel
stick figures; sail boats
1000 meticais
Samora Moisés Machel
stick figures; five elephants walking in field with trees behind