Kingdom of the Maldives (c.300-1153, 1551-1552, 1558-1573), Sultanate of the Maldives (1153-1551, 1552-1558, 1573-1953, 1954-1968), Republic of the Maldives (1953-1954, 1968-present)
Island country in the Indian Ocean (c.300-1887, 1965-present), British Protectorate (1887-1965)
Location: Indian Ocean
Capital City: Malé
Government type: Absolute Monarchy (c.300-1932), Constitutional Monarchy (1932-1953, 1954-1968), Republic (1953-1954, 1968-present)
Main languages: Dhivehi
Main religions: Sunni Islam
Chronology
c. 300: Maldivian Kingdom founded by an exiled prince from Kalinga according to legend
1153: Adopts Islam, Kingdom becomes Sultanate
1507-1573: Portuguese vassal
1551-1552: Sultan Hasan IX converts to Christianity and takes the title of king Dom Manoel, but is deposed soon after
1558-1573: Occupied by Portugal to back Dom Manoel's claim to the throne, but the king rules from exile in Goa. His sons João and Philippe would claim the kingship from Goa after Manoel's death and the Portuguese leaving, but in the Maldives the sultanate was de facto restored.
1573-1597: Ottoman vassal
1658-1796: Dutch vassal
1796-1887: British vassal
1887: British protectorate established
1953: Republic established
1954: Sultanate restored
1965: Independence restored
1968: Republic restored
Currency
Larin (1573-1947)
Rufiyaa (1947-present)
1 Rufiyaa = 100 Laari
Coins from Maldives in the collection
Sultanate under British protectorate (1887-1953, 1954-1965)
•1 Larin, 1913 (Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddin III (1902-1934), bronze, Heaton Mint (Birmingham), KM#41)
Second Republic (1968-present)
•1 Larin, 1970 (aluminum, Llantrisant mint, KM#49)
•5 Larin, 1990 (aluminum, Llantrisant mint, KM#69) Commemorative: FAO
•10 Larin, 1984 (aluminum, Llantrisant mint, KM#70)
•25 Larin, 1984 (nickel brass, Llantrisant mint, KM#71)
•2 Rufiyaa, 1995 (nickel brass, KM#8)
•2 Rufiyaa, 2017 (nickel-plated steel center in nickel brass ring, Llantrisant mint, KM#116)
Banknotes from Maldives in the collection
Sultanate under British protectorate (1887-1953, 1954-1965)
•1 Rufiyaa, 1947 (Sultan Abdul Majeed Didi (1944-1952), P#2)
Second Republic (1968-present)
•5 Rufiyaa, 2017 (P#26A)
•10 Rufiyaa, 2015 (P#26)