After World War I, Namibia (then South-West Africa) came under South African administration. The South African pound and later the South African rand were used.
Namibia gained independence from South Africa on March 21, 1990. The Namibian dollar (NAD) was introduced in September 1993 to replace the South African rand, which had been in use until then. The NAD was linked to the South African rand at par, a relationship that continues to this day, allowing both currencies to be used interchangeably in Namibia.
The Namibian dollar is divided into 100 cents. The coins currently in circulation are 5 cents, 10 cents, 50 cents, 1 Namibian dollar and 5 Namibian dollars. The cent coins are made of nickel-plated steel, while the dollar coins are made of brass. As of January 2019, 5-cent coins are no longer produced, but they remain in circulation and are still used for daily transactions.
These coins reflect Namibia's rich cultural heritage and its natural environment. The consistent presence of the coat of arms on these coin denominations underscores national pride and unity.
