The Afghan Afghani: A Guide to Afghanistan's Currency

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Cityscape of Kabul in Afghanistan
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The Afghan Afghani is the official currency of Afghanistan, introduced in 1925. It's a fascinating currency with a rich history.

The Afghani is subdivided into 100 pul, although the pul is no longer in circulation. This is a unique characteristic of the Afghan Afghani.

The currency was previously pegged to the US dollar, but it's now a free-floating currency. This means its value can fluctuate on the global market.

History

The Afghan afghani has a rich history that spans over a century. The first Afghan currency was introduced in 1925, replacing the Afghan rupee.

The currency has undergone many changes since then, with the Afghan afghani being devalued multiple times due to political instability, war, and economic turmoil. This has led to a volatile exchange rate.

The Afghan afghani was subdivided into 100 puls, with 20 afghanis equal to one amani. This was initially part of a broader move to standardize measurements in Afghanistan.

Credit: youtube.com, The history of Afghanistan summarized

The currency faced severe devaluation and instability during the civil war and the Taliban's control, with multiple versions of banknotes in circulation. This led to a significant decline in the value of the afghani.

In 2002, the afghani was redenominated to stabilize the economy and simplify transactions. This new currency replaced the old afghanis at different rates for banknotes issued by different authorities.

The introduction of the new afghani was an important step in Afghanistan's economic recovery, moving towards a single currency under central bank control. This included the adoption of a floating exchange rate regime.

The new afghani was valued at 43 afghani to one US dollar and was printed in Germany. Most old banknotes were destroyed by the end of 2002.

The second afghani was introduced in October 2002 and is currently circulated within Afghanistan. No subdivisions have been issued.

Currency Types

The Afghan afghani is the official currency of Afghanistan, and it's been in circulation since the 1920s.

Credit: youtube.com, Currency of the world - Afghanistan. Afghan afghani. Exchange rates Afghanistan. Afghan banknotes

It's subdivided into 100 puls, although there are no pul coins in circulation these days.

Cash is still the preferred method of payment in Afghanistan, and it's recommended to carry cash for daily transactions.

Most transactions in Afghanistan are conducted using the afghani currency, which is managed solely by the nation's central bank, Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB).

In border areas, the currency of neighboring countries such as Pakistan is also used for trade.

Exchange and Usage

The Afghan afghani is the official currency of Afghanistan, and it's been in circulation since the 1920s. It's managed solely by the nation's central bank, Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB).

The afghani is nominally subdivided into 100 puls, although there are no pul coins in circulation these days. Most transactions in Afghanistan are conducted using the afghani currency.

You can exchange your currency into Afghan afghani at the airport, banks, and exchange offices. However, it's recommended to exchange currency at banks or authorized exchange offices rather than the airport to avoid scams and get the best exchange rates.

Credit: youtube.com, Taiban banned use of foreign currencies in Afghanistan | Oneindia News

The exchange rates in Afghanistan can fluctuate frequently, so it's a good idea to check the current exchange rates before exchanging currency. You can check the exchange rates online or at exchange offices.

There are no restrictions on the amount of currency you can bring into Afghanistan, but if you're carrying more than $10,000 USD, you need to declare it at the customs office.

Here's a table showing the Afghan afghani exchange rate vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar since 1950:

It's also worth noting that cash is still king in Afghanistan, and it's recommended to carry cash for daily transactions.

Understanding the Afghani

The Afghani has a rich history, and understanding its evolution can be fascinating. In 1925, the Afghan rupee was replaced with the original afghani.

Afghanistan's currency has undergone significant changes over the decades, with the original afghani being reformed in 2002 and issued for circulation as the AFN in 2003. The previous afghani operated under a fixed exchange rate, but the AFN operates on a managed floating exchange rate.

A Person Holding Bank Notes
Credit: pexels.com, A Person Holding Bank Notes

The Afghan central bank, "Da Afghanistan Bank", now manages the AFN, with a monetary policy objective of minimizing the risk of inflation while maintaining the floating exchange rate regime. This has helped stabilize the currency.

The 2002 Series of Afghan banknotes showcases the country's heritage through distinctive designs and vibrant colors. Each denomination features unique designs, making the Afghani banknotes a true reflection of Afghan culture.

Banknotes in denominations of one, two, five, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 AFN were introduced in 2002, providing a standardized currency system.

Inflation and Buying Power

Inflation in Afghanistan is a major concern, with the inflation rate reaching nearly 15% in 2011 and hovering around 5% per year since.

The high inflation rate is attributed to various factors, including political instability, low economic growth, and high levels of corruption.

In 2020, the inflation rate in Afghanistan was recorded at 4.5%, and it's projected to rise to double digits in the coming years.

Man in Blue and White Stripe Polo Shirt Holding Banknote
Credit: pexels.com, Man in Blue and White Stripe Polo Shirt Holding Banknote

The buying power of the afghani has been declining due to the high inflation rate, making it more expensive to buy goods and services.

The value of the afghani has been falling steadily, losing more than 50% of its value against the US dollar in the past few years.

Here's a rough idea of how the value of the afghani has changed over time:

The economic crisis in Afghanistan is expected to worsen in the coming years, making it essential for the government to take immediate measures to stabilize the economy and improve the living conditions of the people.

The high inflation rate and depreciation of the afghani have had a significant impact on purchasing power, with the costs of essential goods such as food, fuel, and medicine skyrocketing.

Denominations

The Afghan afghani has undergone several changes in its denominations over the years. In 2002, banknotes were introduced in denominations of Af. 1, Afs. 2, Afs. 5, Afs. 10, Afs. 20, Afs. 50, Afs. 100, Afs. 500, and Afs. 1,000.

Assorted Banknotes and Round Silver-colored Coins
Credit: pexels.com, Assorted Banknotes and Round Silver-colored Coins

The Af. 1, Afs. 2, and Afs. 5 notes were replaced by coins in 2005. In 2014, a new Afs. 1,000 note was introduced to prevent counterfeit notes. The new note features the Shrine of Ali mosque on the obverse and Taq-e Zafar and Lion Gate on the reverse.

The denominations of Afghan afghani banknotes have increased over time, with the introduction of Afs. 5,000 and Afs. 10,000 notes in 1993, and Afs. 1,000 notes in 2002.

Coinage

The afghani currency has a rich history of coinage, with various denominations introduced over the years. In 1925, brass and bronze coins were introduced in denominations of 2, 5, and 10 pul, as well as silver and gold coins.

The first afghani coins were minted in 1925, with a silver ½ afghani coin being one of the first. In 1952, the composition of the coins was altered, with the 25 pul coin being changed to aluminum and the 50 pul coin to nickel-clad-steel.

View of the Qargha Reservoir in Winter, Kabul, Afghanistan
Credit: pexels.com, View of the Qargha Reservoir in Winter, Kabul, Afghanistan

A notable change occurred in 1961, when nickel-clad steel Af. 1, Afs. 2, and Afs. 5 coins were minted, featuring the year SH 1340 on the Af. 1 and Afs. 2 coins and AH 1381 on the Afs. 5 coin. The Af. 1 and Afs. 2 coins show the year SH 1340, while the Afs. 5 coin shows the year AH 1381.

Here's a list of the various coin denominations introduced over the years:

In 2005, new coins were introduced in denominations of Af. 1, Afs. 2, and Afs. 5, featuring the country's rich cultural and historical heritage.

Banknotes

Afghanistan has a long history of issuing banknotes, with the first denominations introduced in the 1920s. Treasury notes were introduced in 1925 in denominations of 5, 10, and 50 afghani.

The Bank of Afghanistan, also known as Da Afghanistan Bank, took over paper money production in 1939, issuing notes for 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 afghani. The 2 and 5 afghani notes were replaced by coins in 1958.

Close-Up Photo Of Person Holding Banknote
Credit: pexels.com, Close-Up Photo Of Person Holding Banknote

In 1993, 5000 and 10,000 afghani notes were introduced. The Af. 1,000 note was introduced in 2002, and was later replaced by a new note in 2014 to prevent counterfeit notes.

Here's a list of some of the notable banknote denominations introduced over the years:

  • Af. 1 (2002)
  • Af. 2 (2002)
  • Af. 5 (2002)
  • Af. 10 (2002)
  • Af. 20 (2002)
  • Af. 50 (2002)
  • Af. 100 (2002)
  • Af. 500 (2002)
  • Af. 1,000 (2002)
  • Af. 5,000 (1993)
  • Af. 10,000 (1993)

Virgil Wuckert

Senior Writer

Virgil Wuckert is a seasoned writer with a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling. With a background in insurance and construction, he brings a unique perspective to his writing, tackling complex topics with clarity and precision. His articles have covered a range of categories, including insurance adjuster and roof damage assessment, where he has demonstrated his ability to break down complex concepts into accessible language.

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