...Mauritius - 50 Ouguiya 2023 Hybrid Commemorating 50th Years of the Ouguiya Currency 1973-2023

 .الجمهورية الإسلامية الموريتانية

(The Islamic Republic of Mauritania)

 

البنك المركزي الموريتاني

 (Central Bank of Mauritania, Est.1973)

Currency - Ouguiya (MRU)

 

To me, this is an usual release - One design but with three substrates!

 

Here are the three commemorative banknotes of 50 ouguiya all released on 18.06.2023. The designs for these three notes are all the same except that the banknote materials printed on are not all manufactured the same. I believe this is the first time a central bank has issued the same note design but printed on three different substrates - Hybrid x 2 and Paper. 

 

The three type of materials (substrates) printed for this series are; -

Type l - Durasafe®, a polymer center between paper (Prefix AA, Suffix L);

Type ll - Paper with sisal (Prefix BA, Suffix V); and

Type lll - Hybrid ADDvance®, paper center between polymer (Prefix CA, Suffix G)

 

The above three substrates are manufactured by Landqart, Oberthur and Louisenthal respectively. According to the central bank, the purpose of the three substrates for the same note is to see which one would fare better in terms of durability over a reasonable period, and from there it will then select the one that is most adaptable to Mauritania's environment and climate. As the country has adopted polymer banknotes since 2017, it is not sure if this outcome will have any impact on the current polymer series.

The above Types I and III are considered as hybrid banknotes, but I believe Type II is not. A paper banknote can be manufactured with cotton base, hemp, flax and sisal materials. These materials can provide good resistant cellulose with exceptional strength to the banknotes. 

 

These commemorative notes were released to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Ouguiya, the currency name first adopted on 18.06.1973. Prior to that, the country was using the West African CFA francs. The word Ouguiya came from the Hassaniya Arabic language meaning "Ounce". Mauritania was occupied by the French in 1904 and independence was achieved in 1960.

 

These notes are all printed with the bank's anniversary date of 18.06.2023.

 

The selling price for these three notes are very inconsistent. It appears that the C series is the most common type and followed by the A series. The B series seems to be the most expensive, or perhaps depending on who you are buying it from, both the A and B series can be seen as equally expensive. The selling price for the A and B series are well above the face value of this note, some selling as much as 60+ times above it's value.

 

Fifty Ouguiya Hybrid (Series A - polymer center between paper)

Central Bank of Mauritania

Traditional teapot, traditional musical instrument, wind turbines and solar panels

Fifty Ouguiya (Series B - paper with sisal)

Traditional teapot, traditional musical instrument, wind turbines and solar panels

Fifty Ouguiya Hybrid (Series C - paper center between polymer)

Central Bank of Mauritania

 

Front - The building of the Central Bank of Mauritania located in Nouakchott. To the center right is the Ibn Abass mosque also located in Nouakchott.

 

Treasurer General - Unknown

Governor - Mohamed Lemine Ould Dhehby (March 2022-)

Watermark - Image of a bearded old man and electrotype 50

Dimensions - 131mm x 66.5mm

 

Back -Traditional metal teapot, traditional musical instrument, green energies in Mauritania with wind turbines and solar panels.

 

Traditional teapot, traditional musical instrument, wind turbines and solar panels