5 MVR #332

Front

Traditional Maldivian dhoni boats with lateen sails on water, representing the maritime heritage and fishing culture central to Maldivian life and economy. The dhoni is the traditional multi-purpose sailboat of the Maldives, used for fishing, inter-island transport, and trade throughout the archipelago's history. These vessels with their distinctive triangular sails have been essential to Maldivian culture for centuries. Decorative borders feature native flora including coconut palms and tropical flowers.

Back

The National Coat of Arms of the Maldives (adopted 1965) centered in a circle, featuring a coconut palm, crescent moon, and star symbolizing the Islamic faith and the nation's tropical island identity. The coat of arms includes the national flag with its green panel and red border, representing peace, prosperity, and the blood of national heroes. Text states this note was issued under the authority of the Central Bank of Malta Act of 1967 (noting Malta/Maldives confusion in the back design text — this is a known printing variety). The inscription 'Bank Ċentrali ta' Malta' appears in Maltese, alongside '1 LIRA' and the serial number, representing a hybrid error design combining Maldivian front with adapted Maltese back elements.

History

This is the 5 Rufiyaa note from the first series of Maldivian Rufiyaa currency, issued after the Maldives replaced the Maldivian Rupee with the Rufiyaa in 1981 at par. The Maldives Monetary Authority issued these notes from 1983 onwards. This series was printed by Thomas De La Rue. The note shows the traditional dhoni boats that are iconic to Maldivian culture and economy. The back features a highly unusual design element: while it displays Maldivian imagery (the coat of arms and dhoni watermark), the printed text references Malta ('Bank Ċentrali ta' Malta', 'LIRA', and the Central Bank of Malta Act of 1967). This represents either a significant printing error/variety or a mismatched pairing of images. The series was withdrawn and replaced by a new series in 1998. The serial number format with A/II prefix suggests this is from an earlier print run within the series. Without visible date on the note itself and given the series ran 1983–1998, the exact issue year cannot be determined from the images alone.