Middle East

Afghanistan 1000 afghanis P61 Brown View over domes and fortified city/ Archways Unc

Bahrain 5 dinars nd P27 Blue Fortified walls at l/ Aeriel view of industrial plant and oil derrick Unc

Iran 100 rials (1976) P108 Red brown and yellow on white Conjoined portraits of Shah commemorating 50 years of dynasty/ Crown Unc

In 1978, the Islamic Republic of Iran was established when the Pahlavi dynasty was ousted from power by the supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini. Before banknotes could be issued in the name of the new republic, notes from the fallen regime were used but all traces of the Shah were obliterated by overprints over his portrait which appeared on the fronts and in the watermark. We can offer Uncirculated 50 rials showing the obliterated portraits of the Shah(P123b) The back features a view of the tomb of Cyrus the Great in Pasargadae. Uncirculated.

Iran 5000 rials 2009 P150 Brown and pink Ayatollah Khomeini at r / Globe and Omid satellite. Unc

In the past, we have offered what we have called Bumper Sets of Iran banknotes- all great value. Well, a visitor from the Middle East who we haven’t seen for over 2 years because of the pandemic, arrived with a Bumper Bumper Set of Iranian banknotes and it’s even better value! The set he sold us comprises 13 different notes all in Uncirculated condition. The set ranges from the 100 to the 100,000 rials and includes recent issues where the government is preparing to revalue the currency 10,000 to 1 and call it tomans instead of rials. (P136-7,P140,P143-4, P146,P151-3, P155 and P-New) This is a fabulous set with 13 Crisp Uncirculated notes with many featuring the portrait of Ayatollah Khomeini whose followers toppled the Shah in 1978.

Iraq 25 dinars 1986 P73 Last note printed in West before the downfall of Saddam Hussein's whose portrait is on the front. Charging horsemen at centre/Fortified gate and monument. Unc

Iraq Quarter Dinar nd (1973) P61 Green. Silos and port scene/ Palms Unc.

We offer a 1 lira note dated 1958, 10 years after the formation of the State of Israel. (P30) It depicts a fisherman with his nets and anchor on the front while a mosaic of a Menorah appears on the back. Crisp Uncirculated.

Israel 10 New Shequalim 195 P53 Yellow and green. Golda Meir and Tree of Life / Moscow ghetto Unc

We offer a pair of 20 new shequalim notes issued by Israel, one printed on paper and one on polymer plastic (P59/64) The follow an almost identical design. Printed in vertical format the front features a portrait of Moshe Sharett, a flag raising ceremony at the UN, a Star of David and text from a speech made by Sharett. The back shows the Tower & Stockade settlement and members of the Jewish Brigade during World War II. Available separately or as a pair.

Israel 20 shekels P64 Green Printed vertically on polymer plastic / Man and text/Camp watchtower and citizens. Unc

Israel 50 lirot 1978 P46a Grey on crean. David Ben Gurion at r/ Ancient Gate Unc

These bright blue 500 tenge notes dated 2017 from Kazakhstan are printed both in vertical and horizontal formats. The front, printed vertically, shows flying doves over the Kazakh Eli monument in Astana with views of the House of Parliament. The back, printed horizontally, shows gulls over the Caspian Sea set within an outline of Kazakhstan. (PA45) Crisp Uncirculated.

In 2001, Kuwait celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Liberation of Kuwait after the Gulf War by issuing a polymer 1 dinar note (PCS2). The front features the arms of the bank. The back shows a victorious soldier holding a flag aloft and scene from Kuwait City. Uncirculated and limited availability.

Kuwait Quarter Dinar P29 Brown, blue and beige Tower/ Doorway Unc

A complete set of the notes issued by Lebanon between the 1960’s and 1980’s. There are 7 different values ranging from the 1 livre through to the 250 livres (P61-7). They are wonderfully illustrated with views of ancient ruins alongside illustrations of a grotto, a stone bridge, a rocky seascape, an ancient fort and temple, a view of a town, and the famous Lebanese cedars. Uncirculated example.

Issued in 2004 featuring Colonel Gadaffi. Crisp Uncirculated.

Oman 100 baisa nd P31 Turquoise and mauve. Sheik at r and irrigation channels/ Birds and antelope Unc

Qatar 1 rial P14 Mauve and m/c Arms at r/ Boat on shore Unc

This quintet of notes dates from the time before Sudan was split into two countries of North and South Sudan Crisp Uncirculated examples of the 25 and 50 piastres and the 1, 5 and 100 pounds. Illustrations include a view of the Central Bank and vignettes of camels, a lyre, a cotton boll, cattle,a tall building and an open book. Crisp Uncirculated.

The wonderful set comprises the 50,100,200,500,1000,2000 and 5000 Syrian Pounds issued between 2009 and 2019 . Illustrations make reference to Syria’s rich ancient history with cuneiform tablets, amphitheatres, an ancient water wheel, decorated friezes, women baking and eagle stone sculptures alongside views of modern Syria, with President Assad, a soldier saluting the flag and modern building complexes. A wonderful set in Crisp Uncirculated.

An Uncirculated pair of notes featuring members of the Assad family who have ruled Syria since 1971. The father, Hafez al Assad was in power for 29 years from 1971 until his death in 2000. His eldest son was expected to succeed him but was killed in a car accident in 1994. In 2000 Hafez was succeeded by the current President of Syria, his second son, Bashar al Assad. We offer Uncirculated examples of the 1997 1000 pounds featuring Hafez’s portrait (P111/TBB626) and the 2000 pounds issued in more recent times with Bashar al Assad’s portrait(P117/TBB632) Other illustrations include the inner chamber of Parliament and vignettes of oil drilling, agriculture and electricity pylons. Limited availability.

The United Arab Emirates are making the switch from paper to polymer banknotes. We can now offer uncirculated examples of the green polymer 10 dirhams just issued in April 2022.(P-New) The front is dominated by a view of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with a view of the Khorfakkan Amphitheatre on the back. The see through security window features a portrait of UAE’s founding father Sheik Zayed bin Sultan. Uncirculated Polymer.

A particularly colourful set from the Yemen. It comprises 4 values dated 2017-8 in Crisp Uncirculated – the 100,200, 500 and 1000 rials (P38-40 & P-New) Illustrations on the fronts include Secotra Dragon Trees, Zabid Castle, the Sultan’s Palace in Seiyun, and the Al Mudhar Mosque. The back illustrations feature a terraced hillside, a hillside in Hauf National Park, the main gate of Sana’a and the Palace on the Rock at Wadi Dahr a set of 4.colourful Yemeni notes.