Maldives 10 Rufiyaa Banknote (Dhow Ship Series)

10 Rufiyaa (Issued 1998-2006)

The Maldivian economy of the late 1990s and early 2000s was sustained primarily by fishing, tourism, and marine trade — industries that shaped daily commerce across the atolls and gave the Rufiyaa its practical role in everyday island life. The 10 Rufiyaa note circulated widely during a period of growing economic development, passing through the hands of fishermen, traders, and resort workers alike. Dhow-borne commerce connecting the atolls remained central to the nation’s distribution of goods, and this denomination would have facilitated small-scale transactions across Malé and the outer islands. The note was issued by the Maldives Monetary Authority and remained in active circulation until its eventual withdrawal from legal tender status.

On the front, the design is dominated by a vivid central composition featuring a cluster of tall coconut palms rendered in bright green, their fronds arching dramatically against the background. To the right of this central scene, a traditional Maldivian dhow — a sailing vessel with a distinctive red-brown sail — is depicted on the water, its rigging and hull finely engraved in detail. The overall colour palette of the front combines warm olive greens, rust reds, and sandy browns, with intricate guilloché patterning forming decorative borders along the upper and lower edges of the note. The serial number C118786 appears twice — once vertically along the left side in dark ink, and again horizontally towards the lower right. A printed date line appears in the central field, referencing the issue authority, and a handwritten-style signature is visible below the central image, representing the authorising signatory of the Maldives Monetary Authority. The denomination numeral “10” appears prominently in the upper left and lower right corners, set against the decorative border work. The upper border carries Dhivehi script text identifying the issuing authority, and the note’s edges are framed by a repeating ornamental pattern in reddish-brown tones that give the note a formal, structured appearance.

The reverse presents a warm and detailed rural scene set beneath a broad, spreading tree, its canopy rendered in soft greens and browns. Several figures — men and women dressed in traditional Maldivian attire — are shown seated on the ground engaged in what appears to be fish processing or mat weaving, a direct visual reference to the artisanal industries central to Maldivian island life. In the background, thatched-roof traditional dwellings are visible alongside open green spaces, with further figures and domestic fowl adding life to the composition. The scene is rendered in a polychrome engraving style combining greens, pinks, browns, and blues. To the left of the central vignette, a large bold numeral “10” appears within an ornate circular frame decorated with intricate scroll and floral patterns in deep brown. The issuing authority name “MALDIVES MONETARY AUTHORITY” is printed in clear serif lettering along the lower edge of the reverse. The denomination “Ten Rufiyaa” and numeral “10” appear in the upper right corner against a lightly patterned pink background. Decorative floral and scroll motifs frame the left and right edges of the reverse, and a band of geometric diamond-patterned security printing runs along the upper margin in teal and red tones.

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Other Maldivian Rufiyaa you can exchange: 2, 5, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000.