| Descrizione del dritto |
Central device depicts the national emblem of Mauritania: a five-pointed star above a crescent, flanked by a palm frond to the left and a wheat stalk to the right, all set within an inner circle. The Arabic legend 'الجمهورية الإسلامية الموريتانية' (The Islamic Republic of Mauritania) curves around the upper periphery. The Hijri date ١٤٣٩ appears in the lower right field, while the denomination ١/٥ أوقية (1/5 Ouguiya) is inscribed in large Arabic numerals along the lower portion of the field, flanked by decorative stars. |
| Scrittura del dritto |
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| Legenda del dritto |
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| Descrizione del rovescio |
Central device features a detailed depiction of a fish in left profile, rendered in fine relief against a plain field, symbolizing the importance of fishing to Mauritania's economy. The Arabic legend 'البنك المركزي الموريتاني' (The Central Bank of Mauritania) curves around the upper periphery. A decorative border of repeating diamond-shaped geometric motifs encircles the entire design. The Gregorian year 2017 appears in the lower left field, with the denomination '1/5 OUGUIYA' inscribed in Latin characters along the lower exergue, flanked by stars. |
| Scrittura del rovescio |
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| Legenda del rovescio |
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| Bordo |
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| Zecca |
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| Tiratura |
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The ouguiya itself is unusual among world currencies for being one of only two modern units not decimalized into hundredths — it divides into five khoums, a structure rooted in the traditional Islamic prohibition on certain forms of fractional reckoning. The 1/5 ouguiya is therefore one khoum, the smallest denomination Mauritania issues.
At purchasing power levels in Mauritania, this denomination had become essentially functionless by the time this issue was struck.