Time Period: 1884-

  • 1884-1976
  • Spanish period, usage of the Spanish Peseta (without explicit monetary legislation):
    - 1905-1922: Issuance of postal stamps in Spanish currency for the Colony of Río de Oro
    - 1924-1975: Issuance of postal stamps in Spanish currency for Spanish Sahara (Río de Oro, Seguia el-Hamra)
    - 1941-1968: Issuance of postal stamps in Spanish currency for Ifni
    - 1941-1968: Issuance of postal stamps in Spanish currency for Spanish West Africa (Río de Oro, Seguia el-Hamra, Ifni).
  • 1976-1979
  • Moroccan-Mauritanian period, usage of the respective currencies:
    - 14.04.1976: Moroccan-Mauritanian annexation of the West Sahara (officially vacated by Spain on 26.02.1976), the Spanish currency had probably to be disposed off individually.
  • 1979-
  • Moroccan period, usage of the Moroccan Dinar:
    - 14.08.1979: Moroccan annexation of the former Mauritanian part (officially vacated on 05.08.1979), the Mauritanian currency had probably to be disposed off individually.
  • 1976-
  • Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) period, nominal usage of the Spanish currency:
    - 27.02.1976: Proclamation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) by the "Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Río de Oro (Polisario)" for the West Sahara (officially vacated by Spain on 26.02.1976), no change in the monetary situation was envisaged at the time
    - 1990-1992: Issuance of collectors' and fantasy coins denominated in "Saharan Peseta", nominally at par with the Spanish Peseta
    - 1991-2007: Issuance of postal stamps denominated in "Saharan Peseta", nominally at par with the Spanish Peseta; the stamps have beed declared illegal by the Universal Postal Union [UPU Circular No. 129 of 10.04.2000]
    - 27.02.1996: Decree of the SADR government-in-exile on the adoption of the Saharan Peseta at par with the Spanish Peseta to be legal tender in liberated territories (unclear if this also referred to the 1990-1992 collectors' coins); de facto ineffective since the SADR's territorial control never went beyond a few deserted lands along the eastern border.