I am cataloging the Central Bank of Syria’s notes for publication in The Banknote Book, and I have been unable to identify a few items which appear on these notes. The back of the 100-pound note dated 1966-1974 depicts a dam. What’s the name and location of this dam? TheRead More…
Although recent reports of a 2,000-pound note featuring the portrait of Bashr al Assad have been exposed as obvious fakes, there is credible evidence that the Central Bank of Syria may be working on a 1,000-pound note. This video by the Bank Al-Maghrib in Morocco contains brief images of aRead More…
According to an article on YnetNews.com dated 19 January 2013, Syria is planning to introduce a new 2,000-pound (US$28) note in February. While that may be true, the image of the reported note is clearly a fake created using the 2,000-forint note from Hungary (B583).Read More…
According to a Reuters article dated 13 June 2012, Syria has begun issuing new banknotes printed in Russia by Goznak, that nation’s largest security printer. Syria’s current 2009 issues (B627a – B629a) were printed by Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruck in Austria, but OeBS has pulled out of the troubled countryRead More…
According to an Associated Press report dated 5 August 2011, OeBS (Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruck, Austria) is reviewing its contract to provide banknotes to the Central Bank of Syria. The Austria Press Agency reported that printing company OeBS—a subsidiary of Oesterreichischen Nationalbank, Austria’s central bank—has nearly completed the 2008 contractRead More…
B627 (P112): 50 Syrian pounds (US$0.10) Blue and tan. Front: Arabic text; Ugarit alphabet on cuneiform clay tablet; ancient writing on cuneiform clay tablet from Ebla. Back: English text; Library of Hafiz Al Assad in Damascus; statue of Hafiz Al Assad. Windowed security thread with demetalized CBS 50 and ArabicRead More…
Recently a new variety of the 1,000-pound note (B626a, top), have been confirmed. The new variety (B626b, bottom), has a small map in circle added to back, below “CENTRAL BANK OF SYRIA.” Both notes are dated 1997. Courtesy of Besher Ghannam.Read More…
Recently two new varieties of the 500-pound note (B624a, top), have been confirmed. The first variety (B624b, middle), has a small map in circle added to back, below “CENTRAL BANK OF SYRIA.” The second type (B625a, bottom), has the small map, plus a row of leaves added at center bottom,Read More…