The ouguiya was introduced in 1973 when Mauritania broke from the West African CFA franc zone following independence consolidation, with the new currency deliberately structured on a non-decimal base — five khoums to one ouguiya — a division rooted in traditional Islamic monetary reckoning rather than French colonial arithmetic. This fifth-ouguiya piece, equal to one khoum, is the lowest denomination the new system ever produced.
Aluminium was the only practical choice at this weight for a coin of so little purchasing power. Few circulated long enough to accumulate meaningful wear.
The ouguiya was introduced in 1973 when Mauritania broke from the West African CFA franc zone following independence consolidation, with the new currency deliberately structured on a non-decimal base — five khoums to one ouguiya — a division rooted in traditional Islamic monetary reckoning rather than French colonial arithmetic. This fifth-ouguiya piece, equal to one khoum, is the lowest denomination the new system ever produced.
Aluminium was the only practical choice at this weight for a coin of so little purchasing power. Few circulated long enough to accumulate meaningful wear.