PetCin88’s Maldives Rufiyaa Banknote Collection

[PetCin88]

Maldives Currency Banknote, 1960 50 Rufiyaa, Pick catalogue 6B Black Stamped Specimen


Maldives Currency Banknote, 1980 50 Rufiyaa, Pick catalogue 6C Printer’s Positional Proof



Maldives Currency Banknote, 1980 50 Rufiyaa, Pick catalogue 6C Printer’s Proof Specimen

 

[PetCin88]

2011 5 Rufiyaa Bundle

100 Consecutive Notes - from J344301 to J344400

** Including Fancy Serial Number Repeater J344344 **

 

[PetCin88]

Where the 5 Rufiyaa design inspiration came from





Ali Ashfaq is a Maldivian former professional footballer who played as a forward. Nicknamed "Man of Steel", he is regarded as one of the best players in the South Asian region. A prolific and individualistic goalscorer, he is a free-kick specialist and a clinical finisher. His trademark style of scoring is beating the defenders and rounding off the keeper to score. He is considered as the best Maldivian footballer ever, most notably when he was named as the "World's 2nd best top goal scorer" in 2013. He is the first Maldivian footballer to play abroad, and the only player to win a title with a foreign club.

 

[PetCin88]

Up until July 2025 I was only aware of 3 varieties of 1/2 Rufiyaa until I found this

1947 1/2 Rufiyaa Printer’s Proof

“AS SUBMITTED 28.1.48”
“APPROVED 23/2/48”




Now I am fortunate to have in my possession 4 varieties of 1/2 Rufiyaa
(I am the only person in the World)

 

[PetCin88]

1951 100 Rufiyaa Printer Photographic Proofs from 1949

 

[PetCin88]

Comparison between Printer Proof and Final Issued

 

[PetCin88]

1982 “50 Rupees” Unissued Printers Archival Composite Essay - a design not chosen by Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA). An interesting insight into “what could have been”

 

[PetCin88]

Unadopted designs in preparation for the 1983 series

 

[PetCin88]

Maldives Currency Banknote,
1967 “1 Rupee” Unreleased Printer Photographic Design Proof - UNIQUE



Maldives Currency Banknote,
1966 “1 Rupee” Unreleased Printer Photographic Design Proof - UNIQUE




Maldives Currency Banknote,
1966 “2 Rupee” Unreleased Printer Photographic Design Proof - UNIQUE



Maldives Currency Banknote,
1966 “5 Rupee” Unreleased Printer Photographic Design Proof - UNIQUE

 

[PetCin88]

MMA Letter and 1983 10 Rufiyaasigned by Former President Gayoom - "Unique"



MMA Letter and 1983 100 Rufiyaasigned by Former President Gayoom - "Unique"



1983 50 Rufiyaa Specimen signed by Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom - Unique

 

[PetCin88]

Maldives Currency Banknote, 1998 5 Rufiyaa, Pick catalogue 18A Specimen



Maldives Currency Banknote, 1998 10 Rufiyaa, Pick catalogue 19A Specimen


Maldives Currency Banknote, 1995 100 Rufiyaa, Pick catalogue 22A Specimen



Maldives Currency Banknote, 1996 500 Rufiyaa, Pick catalogue 23A
Stamped DE LA RUE & CO LTD

 

[PetCin88]

1983 - 2 Rufiyaa Printer’s Proof

1983 - 5 Rufiyaa Printer’s Proof


1983 - 2 Rufiyaa Printer’s Proof

1983 - 5 Rufiyaa Printer’s Proof
1983 - 20 Rufiyaa Printer’s Proof

 

[PetCin88]

Progressive Proofs of Reverse in Booklet form
=============================
Pick # 10, 4 notes of 5 Rufiyaa Progressive Proofs of Bradbury Wilkinson printers, in Booklet form

 

[PetCin88]

Maldives Currency Banknote, 1947 1 Rufiyaa Specimen, Pick catalogue 2as

Maldives Currency Banknote, 1947 2 Rufiyaa Specimen, Pick catalogue 3as

Maldives Currency Banknote, 1947 5 Rufiyaa Specimen, Pick catalogue

Maldives Currency Banknote, 1947 10 Rufiyaa Specimen, Pick catalogue

Maldives Currency Banknote, 1951 10 Rufiyaa Specimen, Pick catalogue 6as

Maldives Currency Banknote, 1951 100 Rufiyaa Specimen, Pick catalogue 7as

 

[PetCin88]

The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) were selling these in 2015 at a premium price of 7500 Rufiyaa(approx US$490) each for a 5000 Rufiyaa face value

There were apparently 30000 were printed but only 3000 sold to the public - it comes in a presentation folder so I suppose that’s the reason for the premium applied to the purchase price 🤷‍♂️

A quote from Polymer Specialist Stane Štraus in 2015

“The new Maldives 5,000 Rufiyaanote (S1) has a face value of about €300 / $330, which makes it the 7th most expensive note of all notes currently on issue in the world (after Brunei $10,000 & $1,000 & $500, Switzerland 1,000 Fr, Singapore $1,000, and ECB €500).

In addition to the face value of the note being among the world's very highests, the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) added another 50% charge on top of the face value, selling the note at MVR 7,500 (€445 / $490). This surcharge is indeed the highest surcharge for a high-value note by any issuing authority worldwide.”

The presentation folder:

 

[PetCin88]

1980 50 Rufiyaa Specimens #71/72/73/74/75

Apparently a bundle of 100 was broken down years ago and these 5 are from that bundle

 

[PetCin88]

1980 50 Rufiyaa Specimens #71/72/73/74/75

Apparently a bundle of 100 was broken down years ago and these 5 are from that bundle

 

[PetCin88]

Possibly 1980’s 100 Rufiyaa Unreleased Design

Possibly 1980’s 100 Rufiyaa Unreleased Design

 

[PetCin88]

Unreleased Maldives
Possibly early 1980’s

(Two Rufiyaa) ދެ ރުފިޔާ = Dhe Rufiyaa

(Five Rufiyaa) ފަސް ރުފިޔާ = Fas Rufiyaa

(Ten Rufiyaa) ދިހަ ރުފިޔާ = Fas Rufiyaa

(Fifty Rufiyaa) ފަންސާސް ރުފިޔާ = Fansaas Rufiyaa

(One Hundred Rufiyaa) އެއް ސަތޭކަ ރުފިޔާ = Eh Satheyka Rufiyaa

 

[PetCin88]

A Comparison Between Unreleased & Released Designs