## Making History: Tunisia’s New 10-Dinar Banknote

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Making History: Tunisia’s New 10-Dinar Banknote](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fandd/issues/2020/09/tunisia-honors-first-female-physician-on-currency)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/fandd/issues/2020/09/tunisia-honors-first-female-physician-on-currency/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/fandd/issues/2020/09/tunisia-honors-first-female-physician-on-currency/index.json)
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## Bibliographic details
- Authors: MELINDA WEIR
- Published: September 1, 2020

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### Overview
- The Central Bank of Tunisia redesigned its 10 dinar banknote to honor a contemporary figure who made significant contributions to the country; Bank Governor Marouane El Abassi described the honoree as “a bearer of Tunisian expertise.”
- The new banknote debuted in spring 2020.
- The banknote features the late Tawhida Ben Cheikh (1909–2010), Tunisia’s first female physician.

### Tawhida Ben Cheikh — achievements and legacy
- First female student in Tunisia to receive a university degree, in 1928.
- Reportedly the first North African Muslim woman to earn a medical degree (in 1936, from the University of Paris).
- Thought to be the first modern female doctor in Tunisia and in the Arab world.
- Opened a private medical clinic that treated patients regardless of nationality or ability to pay.
- Founded Tunisia’s first family planning clinic; led campaigns around access to contraception and abortion, which was first legalized to a limited degree in 1965.
- First female doctor accepted in the National Council of the Order of Physicians of Tunisia.
- Later served as vice president of the Tunisian Red Crescent.
- Photographic note in source: Tawhida Ben Cheikh and other members of AEMNA (Association of North African Muslim Students) in Paris, 1930.

### Banknote design and security features
- Designer: Ali Fakhet, a Tunisian artist.
- Visual design elements:
  - A portrait of Ben Cheikh on the front.
  - Images of handmade, intricately designed Berber pottery and jewelry on the back.
- Security details listed:
  - three-dimensional threads
  - iridescent coating
  - micro-text printing
  - circles with a spinning effect
  - translucent features
  - fluorescent fibers that glow when exposed to ultraviolet rays

### Social and cultural impact
- Ben Cheikh is the second woman to have her likeness featured on Tunisian currency, following Elissa (Dido), who first appeared on the 10 dinar banknote in 2005.
- The new banknote is reportedly the first in the world to honor a female physician.
- Governor El Abassi: “I thought clearly that we need someone from the contemporary era,” and noted that they were not explicitly looking for a female honoree. He added that “after the revolution of a decade ago, we wanted the banknotes to be a mirror of the whole country.”
- The banknote is intended to celebrate the contributions of all Tunisian women and to honor Tunisia’s doctors and mostly female health care workers during the COVID-19 crisis.
- Context on women’s representation in education and recognition:
  - According to El Abassi, female students are fully represented at Tunisian colleges and universities, with women comprising over half the student population.
  - In 2018, Tunisia was designated the “Capital of Arab Women 2018–2019” by the Arab League in recognition of efforts in the country to promote the status of women.

### Public reception and outreach
- Public reception of the new banknote has been positive, according to El Abassi.
- To better reach younger Tunisians, the central bank worked with a local start-up to develop an augmented reality app, “Flouss,” to tell the stories behind their banknotes.

*Making History: Tunisia’s New 10-Dinar Banknote – IMF F&D*

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## Content in this bundle

- **Haciendo historia ● Finanzas y Desarrollo ● Septiembre de 2020**
  - [Haciendo historia ● Finanzas y Desarrollo ● Septiembre de 2020 (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2020/september/es/tunez-homenaje-primera-medica-billete.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Haciendo historia ● Finanzas y Desarrollo ● Septiembre de 2020 (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2020/september/es/tunez-homenaje-primera-medica-billete.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}
- **Histoires d’argent : Entrée dans l’histoire**
  - [Histoires d’argent : Entrée dans l’histoire (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2020/september/fr/tunisie-met-a-l-honneur-la-premiere-femme-medecin-sur-un-nouveau-billet.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Histoires d’argent : Entrée dans l’histoire (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2020/september/fr/tunisie-met-a-l-honneur-la-premiere-femme-medecin-sur-un-nouveau-billet.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}
- **Making History: Tunisia’s New 10-Dinar Banknote – IMF F&D**
  - [Making History: Tunisia’s New 10-Dinar Banknote – IMF F&D (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2020/september/tunisia-honors-first-female-physician-on-currency.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Making History: Tunisia’s New 10-Dinar Banknote – IMF F&D (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2020/september/tunisia-honors-first-female-physician-on-currency.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fandd/issues/2020/09/tunisia-honors-first-female-physician-on-currency_