Ever wondered about the origins of Bahrain’s currency and how the Bahraini Dinar came to be? Keep reading for a look at the fascinating story behind the birth and evolution of Bahrain’s own currency!

Prior to 1964, Bahrain used the Gulf Rupee — a currency issued by the Indian government that circulated throughout several Gulf states, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. As Bahrain’s economy grew and the need for monetary independence became clear, the country decided to introduce its own national currency.

Starting from scratch

In 1964, the Bahrain Currency Board was established, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Bahrain’s monetary history. On October 7, 1965, a fresh family of Bahraini Dinar banknotes and coins was officially issued, replacing the Gulf Rupee.

The first series of banknotes included denominations of BD10, BD5, BD1, BD½, BD¼ and even 100 Fils!

Recommended

WEEKEND HOTLIST: The Top 5 Must-Do Activities This WeekendBahrain Implements Midday Work Rules Starting SundayBahrain Celebrated Eid with Joyful Prayers Across Different Mosques

The Monetary Authority began to take shape

In 1973, Bahrain took a big step forward with the Amiri Decree establishing the Bahrain Monetary Agency, solidifying the framework for currency regulation and issuance.

By 1978/1979, the Bahrain Monetary Agency issued the second series of Bahraini Dinar notes, this time including a new BD20 note alongside the BD10, BD5, BD1, and BD½ denominations. The coin denominations remained unchanged, continuing to serve everyday transactions.

When 1993 came around everyone got an upgrade

In March 1993, Bahrain introduced enhanced security features to the Bahraini Dinar to protect it against counterfeiting. This update came with a new family of banknotes — BD20, BD10, BD5, BD1, and BD½ — while coins continued to circulate as before.

Following the introduction of the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) Financial Institutions Law in 2006, the CBB issued the fourth series of the Bahraini Dinar in March 2008. This series retained the same denominations as previous issues but reflected the modernization of Bahrain’s financial system!

Get the latest Lovin Bahrain news direct to your phone RN! Download The Lovin app for free RIGHT HERE. Get the latest trending stories to your phone on the App Store & Play Store.