Illustrated Specimen Details: Moroccan Santim
Example Specimen: 10 santim, 1974 (Kingdom of Morocco)
Authority & Heraldry: Issued under the reign of King Hassan II (1961-1999). The obverse displays the coat of arms of Morocco featuring two lions, a pentagram, a sun rising over the Atlas Mountains, and a crown. Below, it bears the Arabic inscription "If you glorify God, He will glorify you" (from the Qur'an). The reverse features stylized sunflowers and sun rays with the denomination in Arabic "عشر سنتيمات" (ten santimat) and dates: 1974 (Gregorian) and 1394 (Hijri).
Ruler: Hassan II
Denomination: 10 santim
Date: 1974 (AH 1394)
Metal: Brass
Weight: 3 g | Diameter: 20 mm
Mint: Royal Mint (United Kingdom)
Estimated value: 0.3$
DENOMINATION GUIDE — WHERE & WHEN (coins catalog: by names & emitents)
- KINGDOM OF MOROCCO (1974-...): santim = 1/100 dirham
About the name of the coin santim (plural — santimat): For much of the 20th century, Morocco was part of the French colonial empire, where the main monetary unit was the franc, divided into 100 centimes. After independence, the new official currency became the dirham. Tradition dictated that the fractional coin remain a centime, but the name was now rendered in the official Moroccan Arabic language as "سنتيم". In Latin script, this transliterates to "santim". Essentially, the santim is the Moroccan adaptation of the French centime.
History and Evolution of the Moroccan Santim
The santim is the fractional coin denomination of the Kingdom of Morocco. Since 1974, it has functioned as the decimal subdivision of the Moroccan dirham, with the standard ratio of 100 santimat = 1 dirham. This system replaced the diverse monetary traditions that existed in the country prior to its complete national independence.
The term "santim" derives from the international family of decimal monetary names linked to the Latin "centum", meaning "hundred". The Moroccan Arabic pronunciation adapted the French "centime" into "santim", reflecting the strong historical influence of French language and administration on Moroccan monetary terminology.
Before the modern dirham system, the country utilized various traditions, including:
Modern Monetary Role
The santim serves as the everyday fractional money in the Kingdom of Morocco. While it remains a formal part of the decimal structure, the purchasing power of the smallest santim denominations has been significantly impacted by inflation over the decades.
Modern Moroccan coins are notable for being bilingual, featuring inscriptions in both Arabic and French. Common designs feature the Moroccan coat of arms, royal portraits, and geometric Islamic ornamentation. The coinage itself has appeared in various materials, such as aluminum, bronze-aluminum, copper-plated steel, and nickel-plated alloys.
Numismatic Perspective
For collectors, the santim offers a look at a monetary system that blends Islamic and French traditions. Numismatists particularly value:
- commemorative royal issues
- transitional post-colonial coinage
- proof sets and unusual mint varieties
The bilingual Arabic-French legends are a defining characteristic that makes the Moroccan series highly recognizable and popular in North African numismatics.