METICAL: COIN OF MOZAMBIQUE
1 metical, 2006: Republic of Mozambique
1 METICAL (plural: meticais — not meticals).
Young woman writing (topic: education).
BANCO DE MOÇAMBIQUE: BANK OF MOZAMBIQUE.
Emblem of the Central Bank of Mozambique.
- Nickel plated steel: 21 mm - 5.3 g
- Reference price: 0.7$
COIN METICAL — WHERE & WHEN (coins catalog: by names & emitents)
- PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE + REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE (1980-...): metical = 100 centavo
The name of the coin metical comes from Arabic مثقال (mithqal: a unit of weight equal to 3.64 grams which is mostly used for measuring precious metals, such as gold). The word mithqāl comes from the Arabic thaqala (ثقل), meaning "to weigh". This term was also used informally as alternative name for the gold dinar coin that was used throughout much of Africa until the 19th century. In addition there is a version that the name of the coin comes from the name of the ancient local substitutes for money, which were gilded feathers.
