Last updated on September 29th, 2023 at 10:36 pm
Tunisia is the northernmost country in Africa, bordering Algeria, Libya, and the Mediterranean Sea. It is home to over 11 million people. Tunisia’s currency is the Tunisian dinar, which is referred to using the currency code “TND.” The Tunisian dinar is issued by the Central Bank of Tunisia and produced in the form of banknotes and coins. Each dinar can be subdivided into 1,000 millimes.
Tunisian dinar come in the following denominations:
Coins:
- 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 millimes
- 1/2, 1, 2, and 5 dinar
Banknotes:
- 5, 10, 20, and 50 dinar
Exchange Rates
To see the current Tunisian dinar–to–U.S. dollar exchange rate, check out today’s rate with Remitly.
5 Facts About the Tunisian Dinar
Currency is more than just exchange rates and trading. It often offers further information about a country’s culture, both past, and present. This is the case with the Tunisian dinar. Much is to be learned about Tunisia’s history through its currency.
1. Interesting people are depicted on the Tunisian dinar.
Various notable figures adorn Tunisian dinar banknotes. Certain banknotes, like the 10 and 20, have more than one version.
- 5 DT: Hannibal, the famed Carthaginian general. Hannibal appears on these banknotes because Tunisians see themselves as descendants of Hannibal.
- 10 DT: Aboul-Qacem Echebbi, a famous Tunisian poet. He most notably wrote the last two verses in the National Anthem of Tunisia.
- 10 DT: Tewhida Ben Sheikh, the first North African Muslim to earn a medical degree from the Faculty of Medicine in Paris (in 1936). After earning her degree, she returned to Tunisia and opened a reproductive health clinic to help impoverished women.
- 20 DT: Hayreddin Pasha, a Tunisian politician who eventually became the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire.
- 20 DT: Ferhat Hached, a labor union leader and independence activist who was assassinated in 1952.
- 50 DT: Ibn Rashik, an Arab writer, literary theorist, poet, and anthologist in the 11th century.
2. The term “dinar” has a long history.
“Dinar” comes from the Roman word “denarius,” which referred to the ancient silver coins that the Romans used. This word continued to change throughout the centuries. For example, “denaro” means “money” in Italian, and “denier” is the name of a medieval French coin — both stemming from the Latin “denarius.” It eventually evolved into “dinar,” and many Islamic countries use this term today, including Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, and, of course, Tunisia.
3. You may not import or export Tunisian dinar.
In Tunisia, it is prohibited to import and export dinar. This means Tunisians need to exchange their currency before leaving when they want to travel internationally. Likewise, tourists must exchange their dinar back for their original currency before leaving the country. Tunisia takes this law very seriously, and if you are caught smuggling dinar out of the country, you will face penalties.
4. Some Tunisian banknotes are no longer in circulation.
Currency can fall out of circulation for various reasons. In Tunisia, 1/2-dinar and 1-dinar banknotes are no longer produced. They were put into circulation in 1960 but soon taken out and replaced with 1/2-dinar and 1-dinar coins.
5. Tunisian currency can be abbreviated “TND” or “DT.”
When researching the Tunisian dinar, you will see that the currency code is “TND,” but you will also see “DT.” DT is not an official currency code, but it is commonly used by Tunisians in everyday life. DT is the French abbreviation for “dinar tunisien.” This is more colloquial, but is never used officially by the government or banks.
A Short History of the Tunisian Dinar
Tunisia gained independence from France in 1956, and in 1958 it was decided that the dinar would be its official currency. It took two more years for the currency to be produced and circulated. Because Tunisia had been under France’s control, Tunisia had previously been using the franc as currency.
Since 1960, when it was first used, the Tunisian dinar has gone through minimal changes, aside from some denominations of banknotes being taken out of circulation.
Sending Money to Tunisia
You can send money to Tunisia with Remitly. New customers may be eligible for a special offer on their first transfer.
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Further Reading
Do you want to learn more about Tunisia and how to send money there — or anywhere else abroad? Check out these articles for further reading: