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THE MIDDLE EAST

Coins and currency from this region that is so frequently in the news.

For other coins of this region, also check out the following pages:
Click Here AFGHANISTAN COIN & CURRENCY PAGE
Click Here IRAQ COINS & CURRENCY]

NEWATTRACTIVE SYRIAN COIN SET

Syria 4 coin set 2 - 25 Pounds, 1996Obverse of Syria 10 Pounds, 1996Syria has been undergoing a massive upheaval as thousands of brave Syrians protest the auto-cratic government of Bashar al-Assad, who succeeded his father as President in 2000.  It may soon be the next government to fall in the Arab Spring revolutions.  The bi-metallic 25 Pounds pictures the modern Central Bank building,  while Syria’s ancient heritage is featured on the other coins..   The copper-nickel 10 Pounds pictures the ancient ruins at Palmyra.  The copper-nickel 5 Pounds features the medieval Citadel of Aleppo.   The 2nd century Roman Theater in Borsa is on the copper-nickel 2 Pounds. All four coins feature the Syrian arms on the obverse and are dated 1996 (the Arabic numeral 6 looks like the western numeral 7), and are Uncirculated.  Our price is far less than  the sets $16.50 catalog value.
Item SY-SET4 SYRIA 4 COIN SET 2 – 25 POUNDS 1996, KM123-126 BU $7.50


ISLAMIC IRAN COMMEMORATES ISLAM AND JERUSALEM

Iran 20 Rials 1979 KM1244Iran 1 Rial KM1245Shortly after coming into power in 1979, the revolutionary Islamic government of Iran issued two commemorative coins that caused a bit of a stir in some diplomatic circles.  The first is a copper-nickel 20 Rials dated both SH1358 and AH1400 (AD1979).  It pictures banners with Islamic inscriptions covering the earth.  The coin commemorates the 1400th anniversary (based on the Muslim lunar calendar) of the Prophet Mohammad’s flight from Mecca to Medina in 622AD.  The event, known as The Hijra, marks the start of the Muslim calendar.  Our price for this historic coin is less than half of its $15 catalog value.  The other coin is a 1 Rial coin picturing the Mosque of Omar - which is located in Jerusalem, Israel.  The Mosque, also known as the Dome of the Rock or Qubbet el-Sakhra is one of the holiest sites to Jews, Muslims and Christians.  It is the site of the original Jewish Temple, where Jesus preached.   The Foundation Stone or Rock at the center of the dome was where many Jews believe that Abraham offered to sacrifice his son Isaac. Muslims believe that it is the spot where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.  The aluminum-bronze clad steel coin 1 Rial is dated SH1359 (AD1980). 
Item IR-1244 IRAN 20 RIALS 1979  1400th ANNIVERSARY KM1244 UNC. $7.00
Item IR-1245 IRAN 1 RIAL 1980 MOSQUE OF OMAR KM1245 UNC. $4.00



2004 COIN SET FROM IRAN 

Iran coin set: 50, 100, 250 & 500 Rials, SH1383
The Islamic Republic of Iran recently released four new coins in October 2004.  The bi-metallic 500 Rials features a design based on medieval art showing a bird and flowers.  The designs of the 250, 100 and 50 Rials are similar to the previous coins of Iran, however the coins are smaller are made of different metals.  The copper-nickel 250 Rials features a Pomegranate blossom.   The aluminum-bronze 100 Rials shows the Shrine of Iman Reza.  The aluminum-bronze 50 Rials shows the Shrine of Hazrat Masumah.   All four coins are dated SH1383 (AD2004) and are Uncirculated.  Our price is less than half of their $16.50 catalog value.
Item IR-SET04 IRAN 4 COIN SET 50-500 RIALS 2004AD  KM1267-1269 UNC. $6.00
Item IR-1269 IRAN BI-METALLIC 500 RIALS 2004AD KM1269 from the above set UNC. $3.75

OLD COIN OF OTTOMAN EGYPT

Ottoman Egypt 1 Para of Sultan Abdul Hamid 1774-1789ADThis billon (heavily alloyed silver) 1 Para was issued in Ottoman Egypt during the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid, who ruled from 1774 to 1789.  The 16mm coin is so thin the design on the front tends to show through on the back!   Abdul Hamid was imprisoned the first 43 years of his life by his cousins,  who preceded him to the throne.  He was a pious and gracious Sultan, that suffered major defeats in wars with Russia, including the loss of the Crimea.  It is an interesting and unusual old coin from the time when Egypt was part of the once-great Ottoman Empire.
Item EG-121 OTTOMAN EGYPT 1 PARA 1774-1789 KM121 Fine $6.00


Egyptian coin setEGYPTIAN COIN SET

Egypt has a very long history, extending back over 5000 years.  They also have issued a lot of coins due to an extensive series of circulating commemorative coins.  When you have over 5000 years of history, there is a lot to commemorate. Their coin designs reflect both their ancient and modern heritage.  A supplier in Egypt managed to assemble sets of 75  different Egyptian coins.  The set contains both circulated and Uncirculated coins, from the 1930’s to the present, including issues from the Kingdom of Egypt and United Arab Republic, and maybe a few tokens.  The sets would make an excellent start of a collection.  It would probably take years of work to assemble so many different Egyptian coins if one did not live there. 
Item BK-EG-SET75 75 DIFFERENT EGYPTIAN COINS $69.75



ATTRACTIVE COINS FROM EGYPT

Egypt coin set
This set of five Egyptian coins features that nations rich cultural heritage.  The 1984 1 Piastre features the nations most famous landmark, the ancient Pyramids of Giza.  The 1992 5 Piastre shows an Islamic vase or hanging lamp.  The 1992 10 Piastres shows The Mohammad Ali (Alabaster) Mosque in Cairo.  The 1992 20 Piastres features the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo.  The 1993 25 Piastre features a center hole.   The five coins are Uncirculated.
Item S-EG-SET5 EGYPT 5 COIN SET 1-25 PIASTRES, UNC. $7.50


ANCIENT PHARAOHS ON MODERN EGYPTIAN COINS  

Egypt 50 Piastres and 1 Pound 2005

These two stunning modern Egypian coins feature two of the most famous Pharaohs of ancient Egypt. The bi-metallic 1 Pound coin pictures King Tutankhamen. The aluminum-bronze 50 Piastres pictures the famed Queen Cleopatra. The coins are 25mm in diameter, are dated 2005 and are not magnetic.. The attractive designs make a wonderful addition to a collection, great cut-ouy coins or coin jewelry.
Item EG-SET2 EGYPT 1 POUND & 50 PIASTRES 2005, UNC. $7.00


JORDAN COIN SET

Jordan 4 coin set
This set of four Jordanian includes the 2000 1 Piastre and 5 Piastres, the 2004 10 Piastres and seven-sided 2004 1/4 Dinar. All four coins picture the young King Abdullah II of Jordan who assumed the throne in 1999. The reverse includes the date and denomination. The king, an avid Star Trek fan, was an extra in a Star Trek Voyager episode in 1995. Due to Union rules however, he was not allowed to have a speaking part.
Item S-JO-SET4 JORDAN 4 COIN SET 2000-2004 UNC. out


MODERN LEBANESE COIN SET FEATURES CEDAR TREE 

Lebanon coin set
This 5 coin set includes the 2002 dated 25 Livres, 1996 8-sided 50 Livres, the 2000 dated 100, 250 and 500 Livres.  In an attempt to keep both the Christian and Muslim factions of the country happy, one side of the coin is in French and uses western numerals (Lebanon was once a French colony).  The other side is Arabic and features a Cedar tree.   Lebanon has been famous for its Cedars since ancient times. The Cedars of Lebanon are mentioned numerous times in the Bible.  They are now the  national symbol of Lebanon.
Item S-LB-SET5 LEBANON 5 COIN SET, 25-500 LIVRES 1996-2003 UNC. $8.00

ISRAEL’S FIRST COMMEMORATIVE COINS

These seven coins are Israel’s seven first copper-nickel commemorative coins.  The series was issued only from 1958 to 1963. Their beautiful, modernistic designs and low mintages helped spark a boom in Israeli coins in the 1960’s. The coins are now available at a small fraction of what they sold for at the height of the Israeli coin boom back then.  The 1 Lira, sometimes called the 1 Pound, coins are 32mm in diameter, the 1/2 Lira (1/2 Pound or 1/2 Shekel)  is 30mm in diameter.  The coins were struck in both Uncirculated and Proof. Unlike many modern Proofs, the early Israeli Proof coins did not have a frosted or mirror finishes.  For most issues, about the only way to distinguish the between the Uncirculated and Proof versions, is that the Proof version has the Hebrew letter "mem" added to the design.Early Israel Proof coins were so designated by the Hebrew letter "mem" added to the coin. 
Image (click to enlarge) Description and price
Israel 1/2 Lire 1962 Festival of Purim

1/2 LIRE 1962 - FESTIVAL OF PURIM

The 1962 1/2 Shekel, or 1/2 Lire honors the Festival of Purim. The coin features a silver shekel from the revolt against Rome in 66AD.  Purim commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people living in the ancient Persian Empire from a plot to annihilate them.  It is recorded in the Book of Esther.  The coin is Proof and has a mintage of only 9894 pieces in Proof.
Item IL-PUR-PF ISRAEL 1/2 SHEKEL (LIRA) 1962 FEASTIVAL OF PURIM KM31 PROOF $7.00
Israel 1 Lira 1958 Law is Light

1 LIRA 1958 HANUKKAH - LAW IS LIGHT

The 1958 1 Lira was the one of the first commemorative coins issued by Israel.  It features a seven branched menorah to commemorate Hanukkah. The coin is titled “Law is Light”. Hanukkah, the "Festival of Lights”, celebrates the miracle of a how small vial of oil that burned for eight days for the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple following the victory of the Jewish Maccabees over the Syrians.  It has a mintage of 149,594 and is probably one of the most undervalued Israeli commemorative coins.
Item IL-LAW-U ISRAEL 1 LIRA 1958 LAW IS LIGHT KM22 UNC. $1.95
ISRAEL 1 LIRA 1960 DEGANYA

1 LIRA 1960 - DEGANYA KIBBUTZ

This attractive 1960 Lira commemorates and pictures the 50th anniversary of the Deganya (Degania) Kibbutz, the first Kibbutz in Israel. The coin features a view of the Kibbutz.  It is a mintage of 49,455 pieces in Uncirculated. 
Item IL-DEG-U ISRAEL 1 LIRA 1960 DEGANYA KM28 UNC. $4.00
Israel 1 Lira 1961 Henrietta Szold

1 LIRA 1960 - HENRIETTA SZOLD

Henrietta Szold is honored on this 1960 1 Lira coin from Israel.  Szold, born in Baltimore, was the founder of the Hadassah Women's Organization, which started the first teaching hospital in Palestine.  She also operated a movement that rescued thousands of Jewish children from Nazi Europe.  The obverse pictures a woman holding a lamb.  The reverse features the Hadassah Medical Center.  The coin has a mintage of 16,781 in Uncirculated and only 3000 pieces in Proof, making it the key to the series.
Item IL-SZOLD-U ISRAEL 1 LIRA 1960 HENRIETTA SZOLD KM32 UNC. $15.00
Item IL-SZOLD-PF ISRAEL 1 LIRA 1960 HENRIETTA SZOLD KM32 PROOF $65.00
Israel 1 Lira 1961 Hasmonian Hero

1 LIRA 1961- DEATH OF A HASMONEAN HERO

The 1961 1 Pound coin from Israel pictures a man underneath an elephant stabbing the belly of the beast.  The coin, known as the “Death of a Hasmonean Hero” or the “Maccabean Hero” tells the story of Eleazer killing a war elephant as is written in 1 Macabees 6:42-47.  In 163BC Seleucid King Antiochus V sent an army to Judea put down the revolt lead by Judas Maccabeus who was seeking freedom for the Jewish state.  Included in the forces were 32 of the most terrifying weapons of the era - elephants.  Each elephant lead a force of a thousand men.  Eleazer, the younger brother of Judas Maccabeaus, spied the largest and most heavily armored of the elephants.  Assuming that it carried the king, he single handedly fought his way through the phalanx of soldiers surrounding the elephant, ran under the beast and stabbed it in the belly.  The dying elephant fell on top of Eleazer, killing him.  Alas, the elephant did not carry the king, and the Jewish forces soon retreated in the face of strength of the Seleucid army.  The obverse of the coin features a torch and the legend in Hebrew “And he gave up his soul in battle”.   The coin has a mintage of  18,801 in Uncirculated.
Item IL-HERO-U ISRAEL 1 LIRA 1961 HERO - ELEPHANT KM34 UNC. $7.00
Israel 1 Lira 1962 Italian Hanukkah Lamp

1 LIRA 1962 - ITALIAN HANUKKAH LAMP

The 1962 Lira features a 17th century Hanukkah lamp from Italy.  Its mintage is only 9560 in Uncirculated and 5941 in Proof.
Item IL-ITALY-PF ISRAEL 1 LIRA 1962 ITALIAN HANUKKAH LAMP KM38 PROOF $15.00
Israel 1 Lira 1963 North African Hanukkah Lamp

1 LIRA 1963 - NORTH AFRICAN HANUKKAH LAMP

The 1963 Lira displays an 18th century North African Hanukkah lamp.  It has a mintage of 9928 Uncirculated pieces and 5412 pieces in Proof.
Item IL-AFRICA-U ISRAEL 1 LIRA 1962 NORTH AFRICAN HANUKKAH LAMP KM42 UNC. $10.00
Item IL-AFRICA-PF ISRAEL 1 LIRA 1962 NORTH AFRICAN HANUKKAH LAMP KM42 PROOF $19.50
Deal!

SET OF ALL 7 OF THE ISRAELI COPPER-NICKEL COMMEMORATIVE COINS

Set includes 1 Lira 1958 Law is Light, 1960 Deganya, 1960 Henrietta Szold, 1961 Hero and 1963 North African Lamp, all in Uncirculated condition and the 1/2 Lira 1962 Purim and 1962 Italian Lamp in Proof .  Buy the set and save!
Item IL-SETCOM SET OF ALL 7 OF THE ABOVE ISRAEL COMMEMORATIVE COINS, 1958-1963  $55.00




ATTRACTIVE COINS FROM ISRAEL

Israel 1/2 and 1 Lirah coins This two coin set includes a 1/2 Lirah featuring a Menorah and a 1 Lirah showing three pomegranates, a design based on the ancient coins of Israel.  Both of the copper-nickel coins are dated 1970 in the Hebrew calendar   In 1980 the coins were withdrawn from circulation when a new, revalued currency was introduced. 
Item IL-SET2ISRAEL 1/2 & 1 Lirah 1970, Unc. $2.00


MODERN ISRAELI COIN SET

Israel coin setThese five modern coins of Israel feature themes from the countries ancient past.  The 1 Sheqel pictures an ancient lily motif that dates back to the 4th century BC.   An ancient harp is on the 1/2 Sheqel.  A seven branched menorah from an ancient carving dating from about 49 to 37BC is on the 10 Agorot.  A coin from the Jewish revolt against Rome dating from 69AD is on the 5 Agorot.  An ancient galley, a motif used on the coins of Herod Archelaus (4 - 6BC), is on the 1 Agorot.   All five coins bear the denomination on the reverse and are Uncirculated. The coins are dated 1986 or later in the Hebrew calendar.  It is an attractive and historic set.
Item S-IL-SET5 ISRAEL 5 COIN SET, 1 AGOROT - 1 SHEQEL 1986-2007 UNC.  $6.00



SAUDI ARABIAN BI-METALLIC COINS

Saudi Arabia 100 Halala 1999: 100th Anniversary and regular issueSaudi Arabia issued two bi-metallic 100 Halala coins in 1999 (AH1419).  The regular issue features a palm tree and a pair of crossed swords.  The commemorative issue honors the 100th anniversary of the Saudi Kingdom.  Saudi Arabia dates it's founding to a night in 1902 when Abdul Aziz ibn Saud and 40 of his followers did a daring midnight raid, capturing the Ottoman fort at Riyadh.  With the support of the conservative Islamic Wahhabi clergy,  Abdul Aziz declared a Jihad, or holy war against the Ottomans and other rulers who controlled the Arabian Peninsula.   After the defeat of the Ottoman's in World War I by Allied forces, Abdul Aziz conquered neighboring Hejaz, and consolidated his kingdom into what is today Saudi Arabia. The design of the coin features extensive calligraphy as well as a stylized representation of a palm tree, and the fort.    The 100 years from1902 to 1999 is based on the lunar Hegira calendar, which has slightly shorter years than a solar calendar.
Item SA-66SAUDI ARABIA 100 HALALA REGULAR ISSUE, KM66 UNC. $5.00
Item SA-67SAUDI ARABIA 100 HALALA 100TH ANNIVERSARY, KM67 UNC. $6.00

Also see:
Click HereBEAUTIFUL OLD BU SAUDI SILVER RIYAL



UNITED ARAB EMIRATES COIN SET

United Arab Emirates coin setIn 1971, after Great Britain terminated its promise to protect them from external aggression, seven sheikdoms on the Arabian Peninsula joined together to form the United Arab Emirates.  This three-coin set of the current coins of the United Arab Emirates includes the 1998 25 Fils showing a Gazelle, the 2005 seven-sided 50 Fils showing oil derricks (oil being the source of much of their wealth) and the 1998 1 Dirham showing a coffee pot.  All three coins are Brilliant Uncirculated.
Item S-UAE-SET3UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 3 COIN SET, BU $5.00


YEMEN REPUBLIC SET INCLUDES BI-METALLIC COIN

Yemen 4 coin set: 1 - 20 RialsThis four coin set features the current coins of the Yemen Republic.  The set includes the 2004 bi-metallic 20 Rials that features the  rare and endangered Dragon's Blood Tree. The tree that is found on the island of Sokotra (Sucotra, Sogotra), located approximately 200 miles (340km) off the coast of Yemen in the Indian Ocean.  The sap of the tree has been harvested for medicine since ancient times.   The 10 Rials features the famous 17th century Shaharah stone bridge.  The 32 meter limestone bridge links two mountaintop villages seperated by a gorge.  A government building is on the 5 Rials and a stylized eagle is on the 1 Riyal. All four coins are Uncirculated.
Item S-YE-SET4YEMEN 1, 5, 10 & 20 RIALS SET KM 25-29 1993-2004 UNC. $9.50

 


FOR OTHER  COINS OF THIS REGION, PLEASE CHECK OUT:


Click Here 2010 PALESTINE PATTERN COINS
Click Here PRESIDENT ASSAD PUTS HIMSELF ON SYRIAN COIN
Click Here 1800 YEARS OF IRAQ COINS & CURRENCY
Click HereMEDIEVAL ISLAMIC TERRA-COTTA TOKENS
Click Here AFGHANISTAN COIN & CURRENCY PAGE

Need help to date coins:  Visit the Creounity Time Machine

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