Last updated on October 8th, 2023 at 01:17 pm
Seven different countries use the term “dinar” for their currency, and Jordan is one of them. The Jordanian dinar is one of the strongest currencies in the world. There is much to learn about it, especially if you’re looking to send money to friends and family who live there. The dinar uses the currency code “JOD” and the symbol “د.أ.” It is distributed by the Central Bank of Jordan.
The currency comes in the form of both banknotes and coins.
Coins:
- 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 piastres (qirsh)
- 1/4, 1/2, and 1 dinar
Banknotes:
- 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 dinar
Exchange Rates
To see the current Jordanian dinar–to–U.S. dollar exchange rate, check out today’s rate with Remitly.
More About the Jordanian Dinar
You can learn a lot about a country’s culture and history through its currency. Here are five interesting facts that may surprise you about the Jordanian dinar.
1. It is one of the strongest currencies in the world.
The Jordanian dinar is one of the strongest currencies in the world, rounding out the top four after the Kuwaiti dinar, the Bahraini dinar, and the Omani rial.
The Jordanian dinar is strong because it is set at a fixed exchange rate and is pegged to the U.S. dollar, rather than depending on the Jordanian economy. This also means that the Central Bank of Jordan can’t affect the value of its currency, regardless of the state of its economy.
Countries with floating currency exchange rates depend on the success of the market.
2. Jordan’s currency depicts historical figures.
Everyone featured on Jordanian money has been a king at some point in history. Read more about them here:
- 1 JD: Hussein bin Ali, the King of the Hejaz from 1916 to 1924. Hejaz is the western part of Saudi Arabia.
- 5 JD: Abdullah bin al-Hussein I, who fought for Jordan’s independence and became the first king of Jordan in 1921. He ruled until he was assassinated in 1951.
- 10 JD: Talal bin Abdullah, who assumed the throne and became the king of Jordan after his father, Abdullah bin al-Hussein I, was killed. He was only king for about a year, however, before he abdicated for health reasons.
- 20 JD: Hussein bin Talal, the king of Jordan from 1953 until 1999. He did a lot for the country of Jordan and is known for improving the lives of Jordanians through his modernizing policies.
- 50 JD: Abdullah bin al-Hussein II, the current king of Jordan; read more about him below.
3. Jordan’s king is featured on the Quirsh.
Abdullah II has been featured on all Jordanian coins. He is the current King of Jordan and has been ruling since 1999. Abdullah II has worked on modernizing Jordan’s social and economic policies and improving the status of women in his country.
These policies are progressive and created to improve the welfare of Jordanians and maintain peace across the country.
4. The word “dinar” has a long history.
The word “dinar” comes from ancient history. It has its roots in the Roman “denarius,” a type of silver coin used in the Roman Republic. Countries apart from Jordan that use the term “dinar” for their currency include Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, and Tunisia. The Latin term has also influenced words referring to money in the Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese languages.
5. Jordanian currency can be referred to as “JOD” or “JD.”
Even though “JOD” is the official currency code of the Jordanian dinar, you’ll see many people using “JD” instead. “JD” is colloquial and used more commonly. The Central Bank and the government use “JOD,” since it’s the official code.
History of the Jordanian Dinar
Before Jordan became an independent nation, the Palestine pound was used in the country.
In 1946, Jordan gained full independence from Britain and began working on producing and distributing its own currency. In 1950, the dinar was distributed and became the official currency of Jordan.
Sending Money to Jordan
You can send money to Jordan with Remitly. New customers may be eligible for a special offer on their first transfer.
Further Reading
If you enjoyed reading about Jordan and its currency, check out these articles that all mention the country of Jordan: