The Jordanian dinar is the legal tender in Jordan, although it is also used as currency in the Palestinian territory of the West Bank. Its ISO 4217 code is JOD and its symbol JD.
Jordan (officially, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan) is one of the ten states in the world whose national currency receives this denomination, dinar, which is widespread in the Arab world.
The word “dinar” comes from the Latin “denarius” (money), a currency that was used in ancient Rome. Other countries where the currency is known as the dinar are: Bahrain, Kuwait, Algeria or Tunisia.
The Jordanian dinar is subdivided into 10 dirhams, 100 qirsh (or piasters) or 1,000 fils.
As of October 2023, the equivalence of the Jordanian dinar currency with respect to the euro (be careful, we are talking about currency, not banknotes) is:
- 1 euro = 0.76 JOD
- 1 Jordanian dinar = 1.32 euros.
History of the dinar
The history of the Jordanian dinar begins with the birth of the modern state of Jordan, which in May 1946 became a sovereign and independent state with the initial name of the Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan.
One of the first measures of the first Jordanian government was the creation of its own currency: the Jordanian dinar, which replaced the Palestinian pound from September 1950.
In 1964, the Central Bank of Jordan was created, with headquarters in the capital Amman, the only body in the kingdom authorized to issue Jordanian dinar coins and banknotes.
Jordanian dinar coins
Currently there are Jordanian dinar coins with the following values:
- Qirsh or piaster coins: ½, 1, 2½, 5, 10.
- Jordanian dinar coins: ¼, ½, 1.
The old fils coins are currently out of circulation. In order to rationalize the fractional system, qirsh coins with smaller values were created in the 1980s and 1990s to replace fils. The lowest value coin (1/2 qirsh) is equivalent to 5 fils.
The effigy of the monarch appears on the obverse of all Jordanian coins. On the coins issued until 1999 the effigy of King Hussein appears and from that date on that of his son and successor Abdullah II.
The reverse features a very simple design that consists of the face value of the coin in numbers and letters along with an inscription that reads: “Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.” Both texts are written in Arabic and English.
The material used to mint the ½ and 1 piaster coins or qirsh is a copper and zinc alloy. Cupronickel is used for the values 2½, 5 and 10 qirsh, while for the rest another gold-colored alloy of copper, zinc and nickel is used.
The only exception to this rule is the bimetallic ½ dinar coin, popularly called nusf, with a cupro-nickel central disc and an aluminum-bronze outer ring.
Jordanian dinar banknotes
The current series of Jordanian dinar banknotes, the fifth series, was issued in 2022. The denominations of Jordanian dinar banknotes in circulation are currently as follows:
- 1 dinar,
- 5 dinars,
- 10 dinars,
- 20 dinars and
- 50 dinars.
The old ½ dinar banknote ceased to be issued in 1999 and is currently out of circulation.
On the obverse of the banknotes, prominent figures in the history of Jordan are depicted, while the reverse is dedicated to topics related to the country’s historical, natural and cultural heritage.
1 Jordanian dinar banknote
The central figure of this banknote of the fifth series (2022) is that of Husayn Ibn Ali (626-680), last Sharif of Mecca and father of the first king of Jordan. That is, the founder of the Hashemite dynasty that currently rules the country.
On the obverse there is also an allegory of the Great Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire in 1916. This banknote is green-yellow in color, measuring 133 × 74 mm.
On the reverse it shows the Rosefinch of Petra and Rum and a bird. Its exchange value is about 1.23 euros.
5 Jordanian dinar banknote
The orange 5 dinar banknote of the fifth edition (2022) presents on its obverse the figure of Abdullah I, first king of Jordan from May 25, 1946 to July 20, 1951, the date on which he died in an attack in The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
Abd Allah or Abdullah had two sons and four daughters. He was succeeded on the throne by his son Talal, but his reign was brief due to his schizophrenia.
On the back of the banknote, which measures 137 × 74 mm, the façade of the Ma’an Palace, part of the Petra Treasury, appears. Its value at the current exchange rate is about 6.15 euros.
10 Jordanian dinar banknote
A brief monarch, Talal I, who reigned for just one year between 1951 and 1952, is the protagonist of the obverse of this banknote. Abd Allah’s first-born son had to abdicate due to his schizophrenia, and was replaced on the throne by his brother Husayn.
The reverse is for the Roman Amphitheater in Amman. This note is blue, measures 141 × 74 mm and its equivalent value is about 12.30 euros.
20 Jordanian dinar banknote
The color chosen for the 20 dinar banknote (2009) is a very peculiar greenish blue that makes it easily recognizable. On its obverse appears King Husayn, who succeeded his brother Talal to the throne of Jordan on August 11, 1952 and reigned until February 7, 1999.
And on its reverse appears an image of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. The note measures 145 × 74 mm and its equivalent value is 24.60 euros.
50 Jordanian dinar banknote
This banknote is the most modern of all, since it was put into circulation for the first time with the launch of the fourth series in 1999. Its approximate value at the current exchange rate is about 63 euros.
It is brown, measures 149 × 74 mm and presents on its obverse the effigy of the current Hashemite king of Jordan Abdullah II (Abdallah II bin Al Hussein) since February 7, 1999.
The reverse shows the rock formations of Wadi Rum, known as the Valley of the Moon. Its exchange value is 61.47 euros.
Euro to Jordanian dinar exchange rate
The exchange rate of the euro against the dinar is relatively stable, although it is subject to slight fluctuations.
If you search on Google for “Euro to dinar exchange rate” you will find dozens of websites like Oanda (“currency converters”) that offer a “rate” of the day. You will also see this graph with the rates of that pair of currencies from Google Finance. Something like this (October 31, 2023):
As you can see, the exchange rate in recent years has been decreasing from 0.87 JOD to 0.69 JOD per euro. But it must be taken into account that this graph represents the value of the Jordanian dinar “currency” against the euro, and not that of the real banknotes you will use as a tourist, which is lower.
In fact, in currency suppliers in Portugal you can buy JOD dinars today at an exchange rate of around 0.67 JOD per euro from Cambiator or 0.51 dinars per euro at the airports (Unicâmbio currency supplier). Nothing to do with the euro-Jordanian dinar currency exchange.
So, when you see these values on Google and other currency converters with your mobile, you should keep the following in mind:
-This is an unofficial rate, and therefore not reliable. That is, if you click on the “Disclaimer” link, you get this warning from Google Finance: “Google cannot guarantee the accuracy of the exchange rates displayed. Please confirm current rates before conducting a transaction that may be affected by changes in exchange rates.”
-These rates you see are usually wholesale prices of the Jordanian dinar currency against the euro currency (currency and banknotes are not the same).
-This rate can only be had between banks, that is, it is impossible to obtain it as an individual.
If you need Jordanian dinars in banknotes you will have to go through the retail banknote market (bank or currency supplier). This means that the dinars have had to be “transported” by someone for you to enjoy them (or purchased from travelers from Jordan passing through Portugal previously).
Furthermore, moving banknotes from one place to another has logistical costs that will make their sale price (the exchange rate that whoever sells it to you apply) more expensive. And there is the risk of depreciation or appreciation of the dinar stock (exchange rate risk).
The Jordanian dinar is not a very abundant currency in Portugal. As a result of its scarcity, its price is more expensive in Portugal than in Jordan. If you decide to buy dinars in Portugal, it is good to anticipate the purchase and order them online to obtain a better price.
Where is it better to exchange dinars
The three most popular places to exchange dinars from Jordan in Portugal are banks, currency suppliers and the airport.
Of them, the least advisable place to buy is the airport and of course the hotels, and any business that charges you a commission in addition to an “exchange margin” (difference between the price for which you paid the currency and the price they sell it to you).
For their part, none of the large Portuguese banks buy or sell Jordanian dinars, and if they did they would charge you a fixed commission of 2.5 to 3% plus an exchange rate.
Euro to Jordanian dinar exchange rate today
To know the euro to dinar exchange rate and where to exchange your currency, the best thing you can do is use our currency comparator.
- Exchange euros to Jordanian dinars (EUR-JOD)
- Exchange Jordanian Dinars to Euros (JOD-EUR)
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