What Kind of Money Is Used in Egypt?

Egypt, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa, has its own monetary system based on the Egyptian pound---abbreviated E£ and called, in Arabic, the "guinay." Each pound contains 100 piastres (pt). The money is available in both coins and paper notes of various denominations.

Coins

Egyptian coins, which tend to be made of copper and silver, come in various denominations, from 10 pt to E£1, but are not in wide circulation.

Low-Value Paper Notes

Paper notes carrying very low values---the 5-pt, 10-pt and 25-pt notes---are used only infrequently.

Higher-Value Paper Notes

Paper notes with values ranging from 50 pt to E£100 are widely used. Small change can be hard to come by, so Lonelyplanet.com recommends holding onto any small change when traveling in Egypt. The E£200 note is uncommon.

Designs on Paper Notes

Egypt's colorful paper notes have an Arabic side, which shows historical mosques, and an English side, which has a Pharoanic scene. Only the E£25 notes are the exception: their English sides show the official seal of Egypt, a hawk.

American Dollars

Some Egyptian vendors and service providers prefer or require payment in American dollars.

References

• Lonely Planet
• EgyptVoyager.com