Decimalisation

In 1955, the British colonial authorities decimalised the Cypriot pound, using the "pound and mil" system proposed in 1855 by Sir William Brown MP, where the pound is divided into 1,000 parts, each called a mil (rather than 960 farthings).^[10] Although this system was never adopted in the United Kingdom, it was used in several British colonies, including Hong Kong from 1863 to 1866,^[11] and the British Mandate of Palestine from 1927 until 1948.^[12] This latter example may have been the impetus to use a pound-mil system in Cyprus as the Palestine pound was for a brief period accepted as legal tender in Cyprus.^[13]

The Cypriot pound was decimalised in 1955 at 1,000 mils (μιλς, mil) to the pound. Colloquially, the 5 mil coin was known as a piastre (not an exact equivalence; the piastre was equal to 5+5⁄9 mils) and the 50 mil coin as a shilling (an exact equivalence).

The subdivision was changed to 100 cents (σεντ, sent) to the pound on 3 October 1983. At that time, the smallest coin still in circulation was that of 5 mils. This was renamed as 1⁄2c, but soon was abolished. Mil-denominated coins are no longer legal tender.

Towards the end of the Cypriot pound's circulation, some cashiers omitted the 1c and 2c coins from the change they gave. Owner-operated businesses often rounded down the net amount to be paid to the nearest multiple of 5c.

Towards the euro

The Cypriot pound was replaced by the euro on 1 January 2008. The currency entered the Exchange Rate Mechanism II on 2 May 2005 and it was limited within the band of £C 0.585274 ±15% per euro. A formal application to adopt the euro was submitted on 13 February 2007. On May 16, 2007, Cyprus, along with Malta, received the European Commission's approval for this^[14] and was confirmed by the European Parliament on 20 June 2007 and the EU leaders on 21 June 2007. The permanent exchange rate, €1.00 = £C 0.585274, was decided by the EU Finance Ministers on 10 July 2007.^[15] From 12 July 2007 to 5 December 2007, the exchange rate remained at £ C0.5842. Since 7 December 2007, the rate has been fixed at the irrevocable rate, €1 = £C 0.585274.^[16]

In summer 2006, the Bank of Cyprus started including on its statements the indicative balance in euros. The Cyprus Telecommunications Authority followed suit with its bills two months later. A small number of shops also showed indicative euro totals on their receipts. By late autumn 2006, the number of banks and shops offering indicative euro equivalents on their statements and pricing had increased significantly.

Euro changeover

The Cypriot pound was replaced by the euro as official currency of the Republic of Cyprus on 1 January 2008 at the irrevocable fixed exchange rate of £C 0.585274 = €1. However, pound banknotes and coins continued to have legal tender status and were accepted for cash payments until 31 January 2008. Cypriot pounds were convertible free of charge at Cypriot credit institutions until 30 June 2008. Cypriot pound coins were convertible at the Central Bank of Cyprus until 31 December 2009 and banknotes were convertible until 31 December 2017.^[17]

For a wider history surrounding currency in the region, see British currency in the Middle East.

Predecimal

In 1879, copper coins were introduced in denominations of 1⁄4, 1⁄2, and 1 piastre (p.). The Greek-Cypriots called the first of these coins the δεκάρα (dekara—from the Greek word deka that means ten), referring to its equivalence to 10 para. The Greek name for the 1⁄2p. coin was εικοσάρα (ikosara—from the Greek ikosi that means twenty). These coins were followed, in 1901, by silver 3p., 4+1⁄2p., 9p. and 18p., the last two being equal to 1 and 2 shillings, as the word "shilling" appeared only on banknotes and was not used on any coins until 1947. The 3p. was only issued that year. The 1⁄4pt was last struck in 1926. In 1934, scalloped-shaped 1⁄2p. and 1p. coins were introduced struck in cupro-nickel, changing to bronze in 1942. In 1947, cupro-nickel 1/– and 2/– replaced the silver coins. The last piastre and shilling coins were issued in 1949.

Decimal - mils

In 1955, 3, 5, 25, 50, and 100 mil coins were introduced, with the lowest two struck in bronze and the others in cupro-nickel. In 1963, dodecagonal, aluminium 1 mil coins were introduced, following the discontinuation of the 3 mil coin. Dodecagonal, aluminium 5 mil coins were introduced in 1981.

Decimal - cents

In 1983, coins were introduced for 1⁄2c, 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c and 20c, with the 1⁄2c the same size and composition as the earlier 5 mil coins. The other coins were struck in nickel-brass. The 1⁄2c was only struck in 1983. In 1991, cupronickel, Reuleaux heptagonal (curved-equilateral-heptagonal) 50c coins were introduced.

Predecimal

In 1914, the government issued emergency notes in denominations of 10/–, and £1 and £5. Regular type notes were issued from 1917 and on. Notes for 5/– and 10/–, and £1 and £10 were introduced that year, followed by 1/- and 2/– shillings in 1920 and £5 in 1926. Denominations below 10/– were not issued after 1920 but were reintroduced in 1939, with 3p. notes issued between 1943 and 1944. The 1/– and 2/– notes were replaced by new coins in 1947.

Decimal - mils

In 1955, the 5/– and 10/– notes were replaced by 250 mil and 500 mil notes. The Central Bank of Cyprus was established in 1963 as an autonomous institution in accordance with the Central Bank of Cyprus Law 1963 and the relevant articles of the constitution.^[18] It began issuing paper money in 1964, and introduced £10 notes in 1977. Notes for 250 mils ceased production in 1982, shortly before the cent was introduced.

1955–1960 Elizabeth II Issue
Image	Denomination	Obverse	Reverse
	250 mils	Queen Elizabeth II
	500 mils	Queen Elizabeth II
	£1	Queen Elizabeth II
	£5	Queen Elizabeth II

Decimal - cents

On 3 October 1983, 50c notes replaced the 500 mil notes (though using the same basic design), with £20 notes added in 1992.

The last set of banknotes in use were:

Last series[19]
Image		Value	Equivalent in euros (€)	Dimensions	Main Colour	Description			Date of			Colloquial name
Obverse	Reverse					Obverse	Reverse	Watermark	first printing	withdrawal	lapse
		£1	1.71	140 × 68 mm	Brown	Cypriot girl in traditional costume	Kato Drys, handicraft, pottery, laces	Aphrodite	1 February 1997	31 January 2008[17]	31 December 2017[17]	λίρα
		£5	8.54	148 × 72 mm	Purple	Limestone head of a young man dated from the 5th century BC found in Potamia.	Peristerona church and mosque					πεντόλιρο
		£10	17.09	156 × 76 mm	Green	Marble head of Artemis found in Paphos and dated from the Roman period.	Cyprus warbler, green turtle, Paphos blue butterfly, Cyprus mouflon, Tulipa cypria, Cyclamen					δεκάλιρο
		£20	34.17	164 × 80 mm	Blue	Aphrodite (upper part of a sculpture found in Soloi-1st century BC)	Kyrenia boat (4th century BC), Petra Tou Romiou		1 October 1997			εικοσάλιρο
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

The 1992/1993 version of the £20 note was almost identical to the latest one in terms of design. However, it is often considered part of the 1987–1992 series despite the apparent look and feel difference. And like the rest of the 1987–1992 series, the 1992/1993 £20 note was officially withdrawn by the Central Bank a few years before the adoption of the euro.^[20]