Oman Currency

The local currency in Oman is the Rial.

The ISO 4217 code currency abbreviation for the Omani rial is OMR. The unofficial abbreviation of this currency is the OR.

The rial is subdivided into 1000 baisa.

History

The Omani rial was officially introduced in 1973. It replaced the rial Saidi (not to be confused with the Saudi rial) due to changes in the regime and the subsequent change of the country’s name. Oman has had a few changes in currency in the past century.
Before 1940, the Indian rupee and the Maria Theresa Thaler (known locally as the rial) were the main currencies circulating in Muscat and Oman, as the state was then known. In 1940, coins were introduced for use in Dhofar, followed, in 1946, by coins for use in Oman. Both coinages were denominated in baisa, with 200 baisa to the rial. The Indian rupee and, from 1959, the Gulf rupee continued to circulate, until finally the rial Saidi was introduced in 1970 and its name changed in 1973.

Coins

In 1970, a coinage for all of Muscat and Oman was introduced. Denominations were 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 baisa. In 1975, new coins were issued with the country's name given as Oman. ¼ and ½ rial coins were introduced in 1980. Coins currently circulating are.
• 5 baisa
• 10 baisa
• 25 baisa
• 50 baisa
• 100 baisa
• ¼ rial

Notes

On 7 May 1970, the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman issued banknotes in denominations of 100 baiza, ¼, ½, 1, 5 and 10 rial saidi.[1] These were followed by notes for 100 baiza, ¼, ½, 1, 5 and 10 Omani rials issued by the Oman Currency Board on 18 November 1972.[2] From 1977, the Central Bank of Oman has issued notes, with 20 and 50 rial notes introduced that, followed by 200 baisa notes in 1985. Notes currently circulating are:
100 basia - Green
½ rial – Brownish-purple
1 rial - Purple
5 rial - Red
10 rial - Brown
20 rial - Green
50 rial – Pink and violet

A new 1 rial note is now in circulation alongside the 1970 note which is still accepted. The new 1 rial note is red, similar to the 5 rial note. A new purple 20 rial note was issued in 2010 on the occasion of the 40th National Day. Both the old and the new notes are accepted. The 200 baisa note is now out of circulation.
Although the 100 baisa and 20 rial notes are both green, the former is considerably smaller, and thus the two are easily distinguishable.