Vanuatu vatu

Vanuatu vatu
ISO 4217
Code	VUV
Denominations
Superunit
10	shilling (colloquial)
200	pound (colloquial)
Plural	vatu
Symbol	VT[1]
Banknotes	200VT, 500VT, 1,000VT, 2,000VT, 5,000VT, 10,000VT[1]
Coins	5VT, 10VT, 20VT, 50VT, 100VT[1]
Demographics
User(s)	Vanuatu
Issuance
Central bank	Reserve Bank of Vanuatu
Website	www.rbv.gov.vu
Valuation
Inflation	3.9%
Source	The World Factbook, 2007 est.

The vatu (sign: VT;^[1] ISO 4217: VUV) is the currency of Vanuatu. The vatu has no subdivisions.

Exchange rate[]

Current VUV exchange rates
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History[]

The vatu was introduced in 1981, one year after independence, to replace the New Hebrides franc at par.^{[citation needed]} The vatu was issued as a single unit with no subdivision, with the 1 vatu coin being the smallest denomination issued, in a similar vein to the (post-1953) Japanese yen and the Tajikistani ruble (although that had an official if theoretical, subdivision).

The ISO 4217 currency code for the Vanuatu vatu is VUV. Its nationally recognized symbol Vt is the most often used in written format.^{[citation needed]} The vatu's introduction also saw the end of the official circulation of the Australian dollar in Vanuatu.^{[citation needed]}

Coins[]

Vanuatu's first post-colonial coin was a 50 vatu coin introduced in 1981 and commemorated independence. It was struck in cupro-nickel like previous issues and was released into circulation, though originally its release was targeted more towards collectors. Shortly thereafter, in 1983, 1, 2, 5, vatu coins were released in aluminum bronze and 10, 20, and 50-vatu coins were introduced in cupro-nickel, replacing the coinage of the New Hebrides Franc as the new circulation currency. This also replaced the Australian currency that was circulating in the British controlled islands. All Vanuatu coins depict the Vanuatu coat of arms, consisting of a native warrior in front of a whorled pig's tusk, a traditional item of value. The reverses depict other traditional items of value.

Due to Vanuatu's French colonial history, the current vatu coins have the same size and coloration of the coins of New Hebrides which are based in part on French units, particularly the 1, 2, and 5 vatu in their similarity in size and composition to the 5, 10, and 20 centimes of the old French Franc. The 10, 20, and 50 vatu bear some similarities to Australian coins but are actually slightly larger with closer approximate size to coins of similar valuation to those in New Caledonia, and French Polynesia. In 1988, a nickel-brass 100 vatu coin was introduced, this coin replaced the 100 vatu note. The coin is of the same size and general thickness of the British 1 pound coin.

In 2011 the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu ceased to issue 1 and 2 vatu coins, which had become infrequently used due to inflation.^[2] Prices in Vanuatu stores are now rounded to the nearest 5 vatu.

As part of a coinage reform, new coins were minted in 2015 by the Royal Australian Mint.^[3]

These coins are denominated 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 vatu.

Old coinage:

Denomination	Composition	Diameter	Design on reverse
1 vatu	Nickel-brass	16 mm	Shell
2 vatu		19 mm
5 vatu		23 mm
10 vatu	Cupro-nickel	24 mm	Coconut crab
20 vatu		28 mm
50 vatu		33 mm	Yams
100 vatu	Nickel-brass	23 mm	Coconuts

Newer coinage:

Denomination	Composition	Diameter	Design on reverse
5 vatu	Copper-plated steel	19 mm	Traditional outrigger canoe
10 vatu	Nickel-plated steel	21 mm	Coconut crab
20 vatu	Nickel-plated steel	24.2 mm	Traditional chiefs
50 vatu	Nickel-plated steel	27 mm	Kava and coconut
100 vatu	Aluminum-zinc-bronze	23.25 mm	Parliament building

Banknotes[]

On 22 March 1982, notes were introduced by the Central bank of Vanuatu in denominations of 100, 500, and 1,000 vatu.^[4] These officially replaced franc notes of the former New Hebrides. In 1988 the 100 vatu note was withdrawn from circulation and replaced by a 100 vatu coin. In 1989, 5,000 vatu notes were introduced.

In 1993, after a financial restructure, the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu took over paper money issuance and introduced newly designed notes for 500 and 1000 vatu. 200-vatu notes were first introduced in 1995 to cut down on the amount of 100 vatu coins received in change and the need to meet demand by producing more. In 2011, new 5,000 vatu notes were also issued in polymer.^[5] Polymer 10,000 notes were issued as a commemorative issue on 28 July 2010. As of 2013, they are no longer in circulation.^[1] On 9 June 2014, the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu introduced a new series of notes printed on polymer, among the new series of notes is a new denomination of 2,000 vatu, in addition to regular 10,000 vatu notes.^[6]

Dollar[]

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Local residents sometimes refer to a notional dollar, equal to 100 vatu, without specifying which country's currency they have in mind. This stems from the period 1966–1973, when the New Hebrides franc was pegged to the Australian dollar at a rate of 100 francs = 1 dollar. Although no relationship currently exists, it simplifies thinking in the larger numbers which a low-value unit causes. For example, the Government's budget of 6,000,000,000VT is in fact only about US$50,000,000.

The concept of this notional dollar was supported by the size of the former 100 vatu coin: at 23 mm, it was comparable to the Australian dollar (25 mm) and the New Zealand dollar (23 mm) but the thickness is equivalent to the current British pound coin. It has now been replaced by a scalloped version.

Pounds and shillings[]

In some Vanuatu languages, in which counting in large numbers is cumbersome and not well known, 10 vatu is colloquially referred to as "one shilling", and 200 vatu is referred to as "one pound". For example, in Apma language, "50 vatu" would be selen kalim "five shillings".^[7] This roughly reflects the historical exchange rate of the vatu against the pound, although since 2008 the number of vatu to the pound has been significantly lower than this.

Alternative currencies in Vanuatu[]

Many communities in Vanuatu continue to conduct ceremonial business such as the paying of fines and bride-prices using traditional items of value, such as pigs, curved boars' tusks and long dyed mats. Vatu is sometimes used as a substitute for traditional valuables in such ceremonies, although the National Council of Chiefs discourages this.

The Tangbunia indigenous bank, based on Pentecost Island in Vanuatu, offers accounts and transfers denominated in livatu, a unit of currency equivalent to the value of a fully curved boar's tusk.

See also[]

• Economy of Vanuatu

References[]

• Krause, Chester L.; Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801–1991 (18th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0873411501.
• Pick, Albert (1994). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: General Issues. Colin R. Bruce II and Neil Shafer (editors) (7th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-207-9.

External links[]

• Coins from Vanuatu