Middle East
Bahrain issues new note series
Mar 15, 2008 10:39 AM
All
of the new notes measure 154 x 74 mm and are
presumably printed by De La Rue (based upon their
inclusion of StarChrome security threads and an
unique screen trap pattern on the back). All of the
notes have the following security features: King
Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa as watermark with
electrotype denomination, intaglio printing, windowed
green-to-red StarChrome security thread with CBB
repeating, gold iridescent stripe with denomination
in Arabic and English, registration device,
denomination as latent image, CENTRALBANKOFBAHRAIN
microprinting, novel serial number fluoresces under
UV light. Additionally, the 5-, 10-, and 20-dinar
notes also include a hologram on the front.
In addition to the security features, the new banknotes also incorporate, for the first time, a feature to enable the visually-impaired to easily recognize the value of each note. The feature—which has erroneously been called braille by some media outlets—comprises a series of short, raised lines, which appear at the top right on the front face of the note. The BD1/2 has one line; BD1 has two lines and so on, up to BD20, with five lines.


1/2 dinar (US$1.30), ٢٠٠٦ (2006). Issued March 17, 2008. Orange and brown. Old Bahrain Court on front, Bahrain International Circuit (motorsport facility) in Sakhir on back.


1 dinar (US$2.65), ٢٠٠٦ (2006). Issued March 17, 2008. Red. Al Hedaya Al Khalifiya School (Bahrain’s first school) on front, Sail monument in Manama City and five galloping Arabian horses on back.


5 dinars (US$13.25), ٢٠٠٦ (2006). Issued March 17, 2008. Blue. Shaikh Isa House in Muharraq and Riffa Fort on front, Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) smelter and the first oil well in Bahrain near Jebel Dukhan mountain on back.


10 dinars (US$26.50), ٢٠٠٦ (2006). Issued March 17, 2008. Green. King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa on front, Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa Causeway on back.


20 dinars (US$53.05), ٢٠٠٦ (2006). Issued March 17, 2008. Brown and light blue. King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa on front, Al Fateh Islamic Center in Juffair on back.
300-dpi scans of actual notes requested.
© 2008: Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission from owen [AT] banknotenews [DOT] com.
In addition to the security features, the new banknotes also incorporate, for the first time, a feature to enable the visually-impaired to easily recognize the value of each note. The feature—which has erroneously been called braille by some media outlets—comprises a series of short, raised lines, which appear at the top right on the front face of the note. The BD1/2 has one line; BD1 has two lines and so on, up to BD20, with five lines.


1/2 dinar (US$1.30), ٢٠٠٦ (2006). Issued March 17, 2008. Orange and brown. Old Bahrain Court on front, Bahrain International Circuit (motorsport facility) in Sakhir on back.


1 dinar (US$2.65), ٢٠٠٦ (2006). Issued March 17, 2008. Red. Al Hedaya Al Khalifiya School (Bahrain’s first school) on front, Sail monument in Manama City and five galloping Arabian horses on back.


5 dinars (US$13.25), ٢٠٠٦ (2006). Issued March 17, 2008. Blue. Shaikh Isa House in Muharraq and Riffa Fort on front, Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) smelter and the first oil well in Bahrain near Jebel Dukhan mountain on back.


10 dinars (US$26.50), ٢٠٠٦ (2006). Issued March 17, 2008. Green. King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa on front, Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa Causeway on back.


20 dinars (US$53.05), ٢٠٠٦ (2006). Issued March 17, 2008. Brown and light blue. King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa on front, Al Fateh Islamic Center in Juffair on back.
300-dpi scans of actual notes requested.
© 2008: Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission from owen [AT] banknotenews [DOT] com.
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Bahrain to issue new series of notes
Feb 27, 2008 12:01 PM
On
September 6, 2006, King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa
passed a law replacing the Bahrain Monetary Agency
with a central bank assigned to issue bank notes and
determine the monetary policy of the kingdom. On
February 27, 2008, the Central Bank of Bahrain
presented
the king with samples from a new series of
banknotes scheduled to enter circulation soon. “We
are delighted to issue new banknotes that carry
the picture of his majesty the king, and depict
Bahrain’s historical monuments and comprehensive
development of the prosperous era of his majesty,”
said Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Khalifa,
Bahrain’s finance minister. No further details are
available at this time.
300-dpi scans of actual notes requested.
© 2008: Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission from owen [AT] banknotenews [DOT] com.
300-dpi scans of actual notes requested.
© 2008: Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission from owen [AT] banknotenews [DOT] com.
Iran new sig. variety 50,000-rials note reported
Jan 18, 2008 12:15 AM

50,000 rials (US$5.40), ND (2007). Like the IRR50,000 reported in IBNS Journal 46.1p21, but new signatures (Mazaheri and Danesh Jafari).
Images courtesy of Armen Hovsepian (www.armenstamp.com).
© 2008: Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission from owen [AT] banknotenews [DOT] com.
Jordan new date varieties reported
Dec 30, 2007 02:52 PM

1 dinar (US$1.40), AH1427/2006. Like P34, but new date and new signatures.

5 dinars (US$7.05), AH1427/2006. Like P35, but new date and new signatures.

20 dinars (US$28.25), AH1427/2006. Like P37, but new date and new signatures.

50 dinars (US$70.65), AH1428/2007. Like P38, but new date and new signatures.
Images courtesy of banknoteshop@gmx.net.
© 2008: Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission from owen [AT] banknotenews [DOT] com.
Iraq may issue revalued banknotes in early 2008
Dec 03, 2007 08:08 AM
According
to a Dow Jones Newswire report of November
29, 2007,
the Central Bank of Iraq is contemplating rebasing
the Iraqi dinar and issuing new banknotes early in
2008. “The central bank will take a decision in
three months time from now, taking off three zeros
from the current Iraqi dinar value,” said Finance
Minister Bayan Jabor. Printing new notes and fully
replacing the old ones would take two years.
Iraq’s current notes were printed by De La Rue,
though Jabor didn’t say which company would print
the new banknotes.
© 2008: Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission from owen [AT] banknotenews [DOT] com.
© 2008: Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission from owen [AT] banknotenews [DOT] com.
Qatar issues revised 100-riyal note
Nov 08, 2007 07:31 AM

100 riyals (US$27.50), ND (2007). Issued September 26, 2007. Like P24, but new signatures (Abdullah Saud Al-Thani; Yousef Hussein Kamal) and Optiks instead of windowed security thread. Images on back shifted to make room for Optiks. Printer: De La Rue (without imprint).
Images courtesy of Ronny Hick.
© 2008: Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission from owen [AT] banknotenews [DOT] com.
Qatar issues revised 500-riyal note
Nov 07, 2007 02:20 PM
500 riyals (US$137.40), ND (2007). Issued September 26, 2007. Like P25, but new signatures (Abdullah Saud Al-Thani; Yousef Hussein Kamal) and Optiks instead of windowed security thread. Images on back shifted to make room for Optiks. Printer: De La Rue (without imprint).
Images courtesy of Jamal A. Alrefai.
© 2008: Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission from owen [AT] banknotenews [DOT] com.
Israel to issue new polymer 20-new sheqalim note in 2008
Oct 07, 2007 01:11 PM
According to the Bank of Israel’s annual report released on October 7, 2007, “To improve the life of the NIS 20 [US$4.95] banknote, the Currency Department released an improved banknote in 2006 printed on higher quality paper with additional coating. As part of this improved quality, the Currency Department will be issuing the next issue of NIS 20 notes based on polypropylene, a polymer which is becoming more popular in many countries due to its durability.” On September 23, 2007, the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the bank is planning a trial run of 20 million NIS in polymer notes beginning in February 2008.
The bank’s annual report also stated, “In 2006 the Currency Department began planning a new banknote issue series, which includes many aspects, including changing the banknote design, improved security features and quality of banknote paper. The new series is planned to be issued in the next 4-5 years.”
© 2007 - Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission.
Israel issues new date (2007) 100-new sheqalim note
Sep 30, 2007 12:14 PM
Iran considering knocking three zeros off the rial
Sep 11, 2007 12:07 PM
On September 11, 2007, Iran’s central bank governor, Tahmasb Mazaheri, admitted that the bank is examining a proposal to knock three zeros off the rial to increase economic confidence and reduce the number of banknotes necessary to conduct cash transactions. Since the Islamic revolution of 1979, the exchange rate of the rial has gone from 70 rials to the dollar to 9,300 rials today. Iran’s largest denomination, the 50,000-rial note, was issued on March 12, 2007, and is worth approximately US$5.40.
Click here to purchase the 50,000-rial note shown above.
© 2007 - Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission.
Saudi Arabia unveils new family of notes
May 21, 2007 04:45 PM
With
today’s release of the SAR 50 and 100, the Saudi
Arabian Monetary Agency has begun circulating its 5th
Issue of notes. The new SAR 5 and 10 will appear at
the beginning of July, followed by the SAR 500 in
September, and ending with the SAR 1 in December.

1 riyal (US$0.25), 2007. Issued December 31, 2007. Light green. Front of first Islamic dinar coin at center, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz portrait at right. SAMA headquarters on back. 133 x 63 mm.

5 riyals (US$1.35), 2007. Issued July 2007. Violet. Ras Tanorah oil refinery at center, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz portrait at right. Jubayl Port in eastern region on back. 145 x 66 mm.

10 riyals (US$2.65), 2007. Issued July 2007. Brown. King Abdulaziz’s palace in Almoraba Area at center, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz portrait at right. King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh on back. 150 x 68 mm.

50 riyals (US$13.35), 2007. Issued May 21, 2007. Dark green. Al Sakhra Dome Mosque at center, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz portrait at right, also as watermark along with electrotype denomination, intaglio printing, visually impaired recognition bars, microtext, holographic stripe. Al Aqsa Mosque in Al Quds Al Shareef (Jerusalem), emblem of state in gold, fluorescent shapes, and windowed security thread on back. 155 x 70 mm.

100 riyals (US$26.65), 2007. Issued May 21, 2007. Red. Green Dome of The Prophet’s Mosque at center, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz portrait at right, also as watermark along with electrotype denomination, intaglio printing, visually impaired recognition bars, microtext, holographic stripe. The Prophet’s Mosque in Al Madinah Al Monawarah, emblem of state in gold, fluorescent shapes, and windowed security thread on back. 160 x 72 mm.

500 riyals (US$133.30), 2007. Issued September 2007. Blue. Holy Ka’aba at center, King Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al Saud portrait at right. Holy Mosque in Makkah Al Mukarramah on back. 166 x 74 mm.
Images courtesy of Ghassan Samman and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency.
Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission.

1 riyal (US$0.25), 2007. Issued December 31, 2007. Light green. Front of first Islamic dinar coin at center, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz portrait at right. SAMA headquarters on back. 133 x 63 mm.

5 riyals (US$1.35), 2007. Issued July 2007. Violet. Ras Tanorah oil refinery at center, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz portrait at right. Jubayl Port in eastern region on back. 145 x 66 mm.

10 riyals (US$2.65), 2007. Issued July 2007. Brown. King Abdulaziz’s palace in Almoraba Area at center, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz portrait at right. King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh on back. 150 x 68 mm.

50 riyals (US$13.35), 2007. Issued May 21, 2007. Dark green. Al Sakhra Dome Mosque at center, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz portrait at right, also as watermark along with electrotype denomination, intaglio printing, visually impaired recognition bars, microtext, holographic stripe. Al Aqsa Mosque in Al Quds Al Shareef (Jerusalem), emblem of state in gold, fluorescent shapes, and windowed security thread on back. 155 x 70 mm.

100 riyals (US$26.65), 2007. Issued May 21, 2007. Red. Green Dome of The Prophet’s Mosque at center, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz portrait at right, also as watermark along with electrotype denomination, intaglio printing, visually impaired recognition bars, microtext, holographic stripe. The Prophet’s Mosque in Al Madinah Al Monawarah, emblem of state in gold, fluorescent shapes, and windowed security thread on back. 160 x 72 mm.

500 riyals (US$133.30), 2007. Issued September 2007. Blue. Holy Ka’aba at center, King Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al Saud portrait at right. Holy Mosque in Makkah Al Mukarramah on back. 166 x 74 mm.
Images courtesy of Ghassan Samman and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency.
Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission.
Iran issues new 50,000-rial note featuring nuclear insignia
Mar 12, 2007 05:45 PM
50,000 rials (US$5.40), ND (2007). Issued March 12, 2007. Orange and lemon. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as portrait and watermark along with electrotype denomination, 2.5 mm windowed security thread, and registration device. Map of Persian Gulf with electrons orbiting an atom, and a legend from Prophet Mohammed: “If the science exists in this constellation, men from Persia will reach it,” on back. 166 x 79 mm.
Click here to purchase the 50,000-rial note shown above.
Images courtesy of Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Hamid Reza Ebrahimi.
Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission.
United Arab Emirates issues new date (2006) notes
Feb 01, 2007 06:04 PM
The United Arab Emirates Central Bank has issued new 2006 dates for all four denominations of its banknote family.
The 50- and 100-dirham notes appear to be unchanged from the current Pick 26 and 27, respectively, except for the new dates on the back.
The 500- and 1,000-dirham notes are like Pick 28 and 25, respectively, but in addition to the new dates, they also now incorporate the denomination in the holographic security stripe at right.
Images courtesy of Amal Mehilba.
Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission.
Jordan new date (2006) 50-dinar note reported
Dec 23, 2006 09:39 AM
50 dinar (US$70.50), AH1427/2006. Like Pick 38, but new date and new signatures.
Images courtesy of banknoteshop@gmx.net.
Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission.
Israel new date (2006) 200-new sheqalim note reported
Dec 23, 2006 09:39 AM
200 new seqalim (US$47.75), 2006. Like Pick 62, but new date and new signatures.
Images courtesy of banknoteshop@gmx.net.
Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission.
Jordan new date (2005) 1-dinar note reported
Dec 22, 2006 09:54 AM
1950 Lebanon 50-livres (Pick 52) reported missing
Dec 21, 2006 09:54 AM
Lee Gordon (IBNS member LM100) reports a Lebanese 50-livres note dated 1950 (Pick 52) has gone missing in the mails. The note was sent from Switzerland to the United States by TNT in a registered package posted November 17 by Hans Kajblad (IBNS member 4277). The package was never delivered and it’s feared that the note may have been stolen.
Anyone with information about the location of this note (number 3026627, series B.122 - 627) is asked to contact Lee Gorden ASAP.
Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission.
Six Arab states plan to issue unified currency in 2010
Oct 24, 2006 10:34 AM
The Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC),
consisting of six Arab states — Bahrain, Kuwait,
Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab
Emirates — plans to issue a unified currency in
2010.
More information can be found in this Dar Al-Hayat article.
Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission.
More information can be found in this Dar Al-Hayat article.
Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission.
Bank of Israel publishes new book on notes and coins
Oct 11, 2006 10:47 AM
The
Bank of Israel
has
published a new book, “Banknotes and Coins of
Israel 1927-2006.” The fruit of intensive
research, the book is published by the Currency
Department of the Bank of Israel.
The book details the entire series of banknotes and coins issued during the period covered. Each note and coin is presented pictorially, and accompanying text describes both the design of motif and the choice behind it. The publication is unique in its technical detail of the notes and coins––size, cover, security measures against counterfeiting, designers and periods of circulation––as well additional background material including the original photographs which provided the source of the designs of the banknotes and coins. Next to the photos of each coin is an example of the original coin––usually an ancient Hebrew coin––upon which the modern coin was based.
The book has a foreword by the Governor of the Bank, Professor Stanley Fischer, and was written by Yigal Arkin, a collector and researcher of means of payments, with scientific editing by Dr. Rachel Barkay, numismatic curator of the Bank of Israel.
This colorful, hardback, richly illustrated book has colored margins for ease of reference. The Bank of Israel hopes that such an extensive compendium will provide both a source of information and enjoyment to the public, and will help to increase general knowledge of the banknotes and coins of both the modern-day Israel and of the young state-in-the-making.
The book is available in both Hebrew and English and is priced at NIS 98 (approximately US$23).
Though the book will shortly be for sale at stores, currently it can only be purchased directly from the Bank of Israel. To buy the book, payment can be either by credit card from the Publications Unit of the Bank of Israel: Tel: 02-6552767; Fax: 02-6552984; email: matikahn@boi.gov.il; or by sending a check (payable to the Bank of Israel) to: The Bank of Israel Publications Unit P.B. 780 Jerusalem 91007.
Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission.
The book details the entire series of banknotes and coins issued during the period covered. Each note and coin is presented pictorially, and accompanying text describes both the design of motif and the choice behind it. The publication is unique in its technical detail of the notes and coins––size, cover, security measures against counterfeiting, designers and periods of circulation––as well additional background material including the original photographs which provided the source of the designs of the banknotes and coins. Next to the photos of each coin is an example of the original coin––usually an ancient Hebrew coin––upon which the modern coin was based.
The book has a foreword by the Governor of the Bank, Professor Stanley Fischer, and was written by Yigal Arkin, a collector and researcher of means of payments, with scientific editing by Dr. Rachel Barkay, numismatic curator of the Bank of Israel.
This colorful, hardback, richly illustrated book has colored margins for ease of reference. The Bank of Israel hopes that such an extensive compendium will provide both a source of information and enjoyment to the public, and will help to increase general knowledge of the banknotes and coins of both the modern-day Israel and of the young state-in-the-making.
The book is available in both Hebrew and English and is priced at NIS 98 (approximately US$23).
Though the book will shortly be for sale at stores, currently it can only be purchased directly from the Bank of Israel. To buy the book, payment can be either by credit card from the Publications Unit of the Bank of Israel: Tel: 02-6552767; Fax: 02-6552984; email: matikahn@boi.gov.il; or by sending a check (payable to the Bank of Israel) to: The Bank of Israel Publications Unit P.B. 780 Jerusalem 91007.
Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission.
Bahrain’s new central bank to issue new note series
Sep 06, 2006 10:53 AM
On
September 6, 2006, King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa
passed a law replacing the
Bahrain Monetary Agency
with
a central bank assigned to issue bank notes and
determine the monetary policy of the kingdom. The
Central Bank of Bahrain will continue the policies
of the agency it replaces. “It’s business as
usual, there will be no changes,” said Khaled
Hamad, executive director of banking supervision.
Nonetheless, since the current series of notes (Pick 18 - 25) carry the name of the Bahrain Monetary Agency on the back, a revised series of notes will be released bearing the name of the new issuing authority. “We will be issuing new notes in the future, but the whole process takes time because we have to create a new design, get security and signatures,” said banking operations executive director Dr. Abdulrahman Saif. “Bahrain’s notes will remain legal tender until the Central Bank issues new ones and they won’t be withdrawn overnight. Even if we issue them, the current ones will be legal for some time.”
Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission.
Nonetheless, since the current series of notes (Pick 18 - 25) carry the name of the Bahrain Monetary Agency on the back, a revised series of notes will be released bearing the name of the new issuing authority. “We will be issuing new notes in the future, but the whole process takes time because we have to create a new design, get security and signatures,” said banking operations executive director Dr. Abdulrahman Saif. “Bahrain’s notes will remain legal tender until the Central Bank issues new ones and they won’t be withdrawn overnight. Even if we issue them, the current ones will be legal for some time.”
Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission.
Saudi Arabia to issue new notes and coins
Sep 04, 2006 10:52 AM
Following
a September 4, 2006, meeting of the Council of
Ministers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency
Governor Hamad Al-Sayari said that by the second
quarter of next Hijrah year, the central bank would
circulate new notes and coins with improved security
features. “The circulation of bills and coins
currently in the market will continue without any
change in their values,” Sayari told Saudi Press
Agency. The new bills will reflect the cultural and
economic progress of Saudi Arabia.
Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission.
Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission.
Lebanon issues new 1,000-livre note dated 2004
Jan 01, 2006 11:20 AM
1,000 livres, 2004. Issued 2006. Green. Signatures: Ahmed Jachifirst, First Assistant to the Governor; Madi Sakkaor Chakka, Governor. Various historical alphabets in grid. Cedar tree, alphabets, and bar code on back. 116 x 60 mm.
Images courtesy of Jorge Rabbath.
Neither information nor images from this site may be reproduced without permission.
Kuwait new signatures 10-dinar note (Pick 27b) reported
Jan 01, 2006 11:15 AM
