Mauritian dollar facts for kids

Imagine a time when the money used in Mauritius was called the dollar! This was the main currency there until 1877. It started with Spanish dollars, and new coins and paper money were made in the 1820s.

The Dollar: Mauritius's Old Money

The dollar was the official currency of Mauritius for many years. It was used until 1877. This currency was linked to the Spanish dollar, which was a very common coin around the world at that time.

The First Mauritian Dollars

In 1820, the British government in London helped the colony of Mauritius. They made silver coins for them. These coins were in different values: a quarter dollar (1⁄4), an eighth dollar (1⁄8), and a sixteenth dollar (1⁄16).

What Were Anchor Dollars?

These special coins were known as 'Anchor Dollars'. This was because they had a picture of an anchor on them. More of these anchor dollars were made in 1822. They were not just for Mauritius but also for the British West Indies. A larger half-dollar (1⁄2) anchor coin was also made for Mauritius.

Copper Coins and Other Places

A year or two later, copper coins were also made. These copper dollar coins were for Mauritius, the British West Indies, and Sierra Leone.

How Much Was a Dollar Worth?

The dollar in Mauritius had its value linked to other currencies. At first, one dollar was worth two Indian rupees. Later, its value changed to four shillings of British money.

French Influence on Coins

Even though it was a British colony, some French money was still used. Because of this, in 1822, special coins for 25 and 50 sous were made. The sou was a small French coin.

The Dollar's End

The dollar currency was used alongside British money (sterling) and the Indian rupee. People often used an unofficial exchange rate. They said two rupees were equal to one dollar. However, this made the rupee seem more valuable than it really was for a while.

In 1877, a new currency was introduced in Mauritius. This new money was called the Mauritian rupee. The Mauritian rupee replaced the dollar. The exchange rate was set so that two Mauritian rupees were equal to one dollar.