Royal Christmas commemorative coins
What is the truth behind the commemorative coins on King Farouk's birthday?
the beginning
It is known to many researchers and enthusiasts that the fourth issue of the Egyptian five pound note was the first Egyptian banknote to feature the image of the ruler of this denomination. However, in February 1947, Al-Ahram newspaper published an article titled “New Five Pound Banknotes,” stating that they were issued to commemorate King Farouk’s birthday! So, is this considered the first official commemorative issue of Egyptian banknotes ever to document the royal birthday?
This news report details the new five-pound note, beginning with the National Bank of Egypt announcing its release.
On the occasion of His Majesty the King's birthday, a new five-pound note was prepared for circulation in the bank's offices in Cairo. His Majesty graciously expressed his satisfaction with the design of the new note and permitted his portrait to adorn its front. He also graciously accepted the first of the new banknotes from the bank.
Was this banknote actually issued for circulation to commemorate the anniversary of King Farouk's birth, which falls on February 11th? Or is it a form of flattery towards the king?
It is worth noting that the first signatures for this edition were in May 1946, more than 9 months before King Farouk’s birthday. Or was this edition already completed and prepared well in advance of the event, and then its release delayed to coincide with King Farouk’s 27th birthday?
Many questions are circulating in our minds, and we hope to find a satisfactory answer to them one day, but currently we can only convey the news to you as it was mentioned by the source.
The report detailed the designs on the paper, describing the front, which features a portrait of His Majesty in the upper right corner, along with a green ornament adorning the upper half. In the opposite corner, a purple image of the Muhammad Ali Mosque is displayed. The lotus flower is the primary motif in the design, and it is also featured in the watercolor painting at the bottom of the center.
The back of the paper is decorated with a beautiful geometric pattern that appears to be spread out on both sides, featuring a group of statues that symbolize the Nile and the wealth and prosperity it brings. The artist borrowed the drawing from a Roman painting of a statue dating back to the third century AD, which was said to have been carved in Alexandria during the period of flourishing Greek art in the Near East in the era following the era of Alexander the Great.
Commemorative coins as mentioned in Al-Ahram
In either case, this note is considered the first five-pound banknote bearing the image of an Egyptian king, and if it is proven that it was issued to commemorate the birth of King Farouk, it will be considered the first documented commemorative coin of Egyptian paper currency!
It is worth noting that, up to the time of this announcement, no Egyptian five-pound note actually issued in 1947 had appeared on the pages of the Arab Collector, as the prefixes found in 1946 end with AB/20, issued on 24-05-1946, and then the sequence starts again at AB/21 on 01-06-1948.
This weakens the credibility of the news, but future days may reveal clearer details about these alleged commemorative coins!
Al-Ahram continued in the article, stating that the design for the “commemorative coins” was created by the famous artist Stephen Goodon, a member of the Royal Academy, in collaboration with the banknote printers Bradbury, Lincoln and Associates.
Dr. Mazen Ibrahim
Sources:
Al-Ahram Egyptian Newspaper Electronic Archive
You can follow the topics Similar On the Arab collector's website
Money for the siege of Khartoum
King Farouk's World Coin Collection
