IRAIMBILANJA: MALAGASY REPUBLIC
1 iraimbilanja, 1966: Malagasy Republic (Madagascar)
On Malagasy coins, the denomination is often indicated in two formats — traditional and "European". Thus, in Madagascar 1/5 of an ariary (one-fifth of the main currency) is officially called both iraimbillania and franc (iraimbilanja = franc).
1 FRANC / IRAIMBILANJA.
Zebu head (from the Seal of the Malagasy Republic) and wreath.
Symbols of Paris Mint: cornucopia (mintmark from 1880) and owl (engraver Raymond Joly).
FAMOAHAMBOLAN'NY REPOBLIKA MALAGASY: Emission of the Malagasy Republic.
Poinsettia (Latin "Euphorbia pulcherrima") flower.
Mintage: 7.500.000.
Paris mint (Monnaie de Paris, France).
- Stainless steel: 17 mm - 2.4 g
- Reference price: 1.3$
COIN IRAIMBILANJA — WHERE & WHEN (coins catalog: by names & emitents)
- MALAGASY REPUBLIC + DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF MADAGASCAR + REPUBLIC OF MADAGASCAR (1965-…): iraimbilanja = franc = 1/5 ariary
There is information that the name of the coin iraimbilanja literally translates as "one iron weight" (Malagasy: "Iray/Irai" — one, "Vy/Mbi" — iron, "Lanja" — weight). This is probably a tribute to the pre-coin colonial period on the island. As for the etymology for double iraimbilanja ("venty sy kirobo"), the situation is even more interesting. There are special names for parts of the Malagasy franc: 2.4 francs — loso; 1.6 - sasanangy; 1.2 — kirobo; 0.8 — venty; 0.6 — sikajy; 0.2 — voamena. That is, venty sy kirobo = 0.8 francs + 1.2 francs = 2 francs = 2 iraimbilanja. Strange and confusing as for the monetary system of the modern state…
