 500/-, 1,000/- and 5,000/- banknotes | |
| ISO 4217 | |
| Code | None |
| Unit | |
| Symbol | Sl.Sh. SLSH, /- |
| Denominations | |
| Banknotes | |
| Freq. used | 100/-, 500/-, 1,000/-, 5,000/-[1] |
| Rarely used | 5/-, 10/-, 20/-, 50/-, |
| Coins | |
| Rarely used | 1/-, 5/-, 10/-, 20/- |
| Demographics | |
| User(s) |  Somaliland |
| Issuance | |
| Central bank | Bank of Somaliland (Baanka Somaliland) |
| Website | https://cb.govsomaliland.org/ |
| Valuation | |
| Pegged with | 1U.S. dollar = ~ 10,000/- |
TheSomaliland shilling (Somali:Shillin Somaliland,Arabic:شلن صوماليلاندي; abbreviation:Sl.Sh. orSLSH; symbol:/-) is the official currency of the Republic ofSomaliland, apartially recognised state in theHorn of Africa, recognised by most countries asde jure part ofSomalia.[2][3][4]
Theshilling has been the currency of parts of Somalia since 1921, when theEast African shilling was introduced to the formerBritish Somalilandprotectorate. Following the 1960 independence and unification of the former territories ofBritish Somaliland andItalian Somaliland, their respective currencies, the East African shilling andsomalo (which were equal in value) were replaced at par in 1962 by theSomali shilling. Names used for its denominations were cent (singular: centesimo; plural: centesimi) and سنت (plural: سنتيمات), along with shilling (singular: scellino; plural: scellini) and شلن.
In September 1994, theParliament of Somaliland endorsed PresidentEgal's plans to introduce a new currency to replace theSomali shilling.[5] The Somaliland shilling was introduced on 18 October 1994 at a rate of Sl.So. 1/- toSo.Sh. 100/-. The Somali shilling ceased to be accepted as legal tender in Somaliland on 31 January 1995.[6]
The Somaliland shilling ispegged to theUnited States dollar at a rate of Sl.Sh. 580/12 to US$1. Only the 100/-, 500/-, 1,000/- and 5,000/-banknotes are currently in circulation.[citation needed]
The Somaliland shilling is nominally divided into 100 cents, but coins denominated in cents have never been issued due to their low value. The coin with the lowest value to have been issued is the 1/- coin, first minted in 1994 at thePobjoy Mint inEngland and thus bearing thePMmint mark. In 2002, 2/- and 5/- coins were issued, bearing depictions of explorerSir Richard Burton and acockerel, respectively. Other coins that have been issued are the 10/- coin (depicting avervet monkey) and 20/- coin (depicting anItalian Greyhound). Somaliland coins are not currently being minted or circulated.[citation needed]
The 1/- and 5/- coins are struck inaluminium, the 10/- coin inbrass, the 20/- coin instainless steel, and the 1,000/- coin in .999 finesilver.
This was the first coin issued by the Somaliland government. The coin depicts aSomali pigeon (Columba oliviae). The PM (Pobjoy Mint)mint mark is located near the bird's tail feathers. The words "REPUBLIC OF SOMALILAND 1994" are inscribed on theobverse of the coin; thereverse of the coin bears the words "BAANKA SOMALILAND" and "ONE SOMALILAND SHILLING" around the "1/-" in the centre.
There are two coins in this denomination, both issued in 2002. The first bears a portrait ofSir Richard Francis Burton, the second depicts a rooster.
The specifications of the first coin are as follows:
The obverse of the coin has the words "RICHARD F. BURTON EXPLORATION OF SOMALILAND" inscribed around Burton's portrait. The dates "1841 1904" are to the left of the portrait, and "2002" is to the right. "BAANKA SOMALILAND" and "FIVE SOMALILAND SHILLINGS" are inscribed on the reverse around the "5/-" in the centre.
The specifications of the second coin are as follows:
The obverse of this coin has the words "REPUBLIC OF SOMALILAND 2002" inscribed on it and depicts a cockerel. As with the other 5/- coin, the dates "1841 1904" are to the left of the portrait, and "2002" is to the right. 'BAANKA SOMALILAND' and 'FIVE SOMALILAND SHILLINGS' are also inscribed on the reverse around the "5/-" in the centre.
The Sl.Sh.10/- coin obverse depicts avervet monkey,[7] around which the words "REPUBLIC OF SOMALILAND 2002" are inscribed. The reverse of the coin has "BAANKA SOMALILAND" and "TEN SOMALILAND SHILLINGS" inscribed around the "10/-" in the centre.
The obverse of the 20/- coin depicts anItalian Greyhound and has the words "REPUBLIC OF SOMALILAND 2002" inscribed around it.[8][9] The reverse has "BAANKA SOMALILAND" and "TWENTY SOMALILAND SHILLINGS" inscribed around the "20/-" in the centre.
| Obverse | Reverse | Value | Obverse | Reverse | Date of issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | 1/- | The obverse depicts aSomali pigeon (Columba oliviae) | "BAANKA SOMALILAND" and "ONE SOMALILAND SHILLING" appear above and below the "1/-" in the centre | 1994 |
 |  | 5/- | There were two coins of this denomination, both issued in 2002. The first coin obverse has a portrait of SirRichard Francis Burton, while the second depicts a rooster. | "BAANKA SOMALILAND" and "FIVE SOMALILAND SHILLINGS" appear above and below the "5/-" in the centre | 2002 |
 |  | 10/- | The obverse depicts avervet monkey | "BAANKA SOMALILAND" and "TEN SOMALILAND SHILLINGS" appear above and below the "10/-" in the centre | 2002 |
 |  | 20/- | The obverse depicts anItalian Greyhound | "BAANKA SOMALILAND" and "TWENTY SOMALILAND SHILLINGS" appear above and below the "20/-" in the centre | 2002 |
Banknotes were issued in denominations of 5/-, 10/-, 20/-, 50/-, 100/-, 500/-, 1,000/- and 5,000/-; dates of issue range from 1994 to 2011.[10] Currently, only the 100/-, 500/-, 1,000/- and 5,000/- notes are in circulation.
| 1996-2011 notes[1] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obverse | Reverse | Value | Main Colour | Obverse | Reverse | Date(s) of issue |
 |  | 5/- | Green | Camel caravan in front ofNaasa Hablood Hills nearHargeisa | Goodirka Building (Former House of Representatives, later Supreme Court) inHargeisa, and akudu to the right | 1994 |
 |  | 10/- | Purple | 1994, 1996 | ||
 |  | 20/- | Brown | |||
 |  | 50/- | Blue | 1996, 1999 | ||
 |  | 100/- | Khaki | Berbera dockside withSomali sheep andgoats | Bank of Somaliland inHargeisa | 1994, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2016 |
 |  | 500/- | Blue | |||
 |  | 1,000/- | Red | 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 | ||
 |  | 5,000/- | Green | Three camels and three goats foraging | 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016 | |
| These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre (18 pixel per inch). For table standards, see thebanknote specification table. | ||||||
In 1996 and 1999, regular 50/- notes were reissued in a larger size (130 × 58 or 130 × 57 mm by difference sources).
In 1996, banknotes were overprinted with the phrase "5th Anniversary of Independence 18 May 1996 Sanad Gurada 5ee Gobanimadda 18 May 1996" in bronze/gold letters, or "Sanad Gurada 5ee Gobanimadda 18 May 1996" in silver letters to commemorate the fifth anniversary of de facto independence. However, it is unclear whether these notes were overprinted by Somaliland authorities or numismatic merchants.[citation needed]
The central bank provides exchange services for various currencies at the official government rate, but most people prefer the unofficial rates used byhawala agents andmoney changers on the streets of main cities.
| Preceded by: Somali shilling Reason: currency independence Ratio: 1 Somaliland shilling = 100 Somali shillings = 1.50United States dollar | Currency ofSomaliland 1994 – Note: Somaliland is not widely recognized | Succeeded by: Current |
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