Lebanon: trees, galleys and lions

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Lebanon is a country that is often overlooked by collectors, but it has produced some beautiful designs.

Look at this silver 50 piastres coin from 1929.

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Lebanon, 5 piastres, 1925.

The cedar tree is Lebanon's national symbol, which also appears on its flag.

It has been depicted in several different versions on the nation's coins.

And look at the bees on this beauty. They just don't make them like that any more.

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Lebanon, 5 piastres, 1955.  Another version of the cedar tree.

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From the same year, a rather different cedar on the 5 piastres.

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Lebanon, 1 livre, 1975.  Your final cedar of the topic.

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Lebanon, 2½ piastres, 1940.  Look at these quaint lion heads.

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Lebanon, 5 piastres, 1955.  Another superb lion head.

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Lebanon, 5 piastres, 1925.

Lebanon also depicted a few ancient galleys on its coins over the years.

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Lebanon, 5 piastres, 1952.



Lebanon, 10 piastres, 1955.  Another attractive galley design.

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Lebanon, 10 piastres, 1955. 

For some reason Lebanon issued two different versions of the denomination in 1955.

See:  Lebanon 10 piastres 1955: two very different coin types in the same year.

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Lebanon, 10 piastres, 1961.

The same galley, this time in copper-nickel, rather than aluminium-bronze. 

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Lebanon, 2006, 50 pounds. 

Not a galley this time, but a lateen rigged sloop.

This coin was a one year type only, as inflation made it defunct.

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Lebanon, 5 piastres, 1924.

Going back in time, some nice caligraphy appears on this 5 piastres coin of 1924.

I like the shape of the inner rim, but it is curious that the denomination is given as 5 Syrian piastres.

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it is curious that the denomination is given as 5 Syrian piastres.

Imperial politicking. Wikipedia explains it well:

After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the currency became the Egyptian pound in 1918. Upon gaining control of Syria and Lebanon, the French replaced the Egyptian pound with a new currency for Syria and Lebanon, the Syrian pound, which was linked to the French franc at a value of 1 pound = 20 francs. Lebanon issued its own coins from 1924 and banknotes from 1925. In 1939, the Lebanese currency was officially separated from that of Syria, though it was still linked to the French franc and remained interchangeable with Syrian money.

As you can see from the mint marks, many of the elements you show are an original French design.

Peter

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Thanks for the link to the currency matter, Peter.

Yes, you can definitely see French elements of style in the designs, too: "stylish" is the word.