Malagasy ariary

Malagasy ariary
500 franc (100 ariary) banknote (1993)
ISO 4217
CodeMGA (numeric: 969)
Subunit0.01
Unit
PluralThe language(s) of this currency do(es) not have a morphological plural distinction.
SymbolAr
Denominations
Subunit
15iraimbilanja (franc)
Banknotes
 Freq. used100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000 Ar
 Rarely used20,000 Ar
Coins
 Freq. used10, 20, 50 Ar
 Rarely used1, 2 iraimbilanja; 1, 2, 4, 5 Ar
Demographics
ReplacedMalagasy franc
User(s) Madagascar
Issuance
Central bankBanky Foiben'i Madagasikara
 Websitewww.banky-foibe.mg
Valuation
Inflation8.8%
 SourceThe World Factbook, 2013 est.

The ariary (sign: Ar;[1] ISO 4217 code MGA) is the currency of Madagascar. It is notionally subdivided into 5 iraimbilanja and is one of only two non-decimal currencies currently circulating (the other is the Mauritanian ouguiya). The names ariary and iraimbilanja derive from the pre-colonial currency, with ariary (from the Spanish word "real") being the name for a silver dollar. Iraimbilanja means literally "one iron weight" and was the name of an old coin worth 15 of an ariary. However, as of May 2023, the unit is effectively obsolete since the iraimbilanja has practically no purchasing power, and the coins have fallen into disuse.

  1. ^ "Banky Foiben'i Madagasikara [Central Bank of Madagascar]" (in French). Archived from the original on 16 January 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011.