Syria: Scenic Landmarks Series, 1996/2003

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Syria, 10 pounds, 1996.  Reverse.

The reverse design depicted the ancient ruins of the city of Palmyra.

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The ancient ruins of the city of Palmyra.

From Wikipedia:

Palmyra was an ancient Arabic city in central Syria. In antiquity, it was an important city located in an oasis 215 km (134 mi) northeast of Damascus and 180 km (110 mi) southwest of the Euphrates at Deir ez-Zor. It had long been a vital caravan stop for travellers crossing the Syrian desert and was known as the Bride of the Desert. The earliest documented reference to the city by its Semitic name Tadmor, Tadmur or Tudmur (which means "the town that repels" in Amorite and "the indomitable town" in Aramaic) is recorded in Babylonian tablets found in Mari.

Though the ancient site fell into disuse after the 16th century, it is still known as Tadmor in Arabic. There is a newer town of the same name next to the ruins. The Palmyrenes constructed a series of large-scale monuments containing funerary art such as limestone slabs with human busts representing the deceased.

According to reports, parts of Palmyra and its ruins were destroyed by ISIS/ISIL, one of the antagonist groups in the Syrian civil war.

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Syria, 25 pounds, 1996.  Obverse.

The 25 pounds coin of 1996 was bimetallic.

It had a stainless steel centre within an aluminium bronze ring.

It weighed 6.45 grams and was 25 mm in diameter.

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Syria, 25 pounds, 1996.  Reverse.

The reverse design depicted the Central Bank of Syria.

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Central Bank of Syria.

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NEW COIN SERIES OF 2003

In 2003 Syria issued a new coin series.

It retained essentially the same designs as before.


Due to inflation the 1 and 2 pound coins were no longer minted.

The metal content of the remaining coins was changed.

Also, each coin now had a latent image.

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Syria, 5 pounds, 2003.  Obverse.

The 5 pounds coin of 2003 was made of nickel-plated steel.

It had a stainless steel centre within an aluminium bronze ring.

It weighed 7.5 grams and was 24.5 mm in diameter.

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Syria, 5 pounds, 2003.  Reverse.

The reverse design once more depicted the citadel of Aleppo.


The reverse  now included a latent image.

It showed either a numeral 5 or the letters CBS.

This depended on which way the coin was tilted.

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Syria, 10 pounds, 2003.  Obverse.

The 10 pounds coin of 2003 was made of nickel-brass.

It weighed 9.5 grams and was 27 mm in diameter.


The solid line inner circle on the previous coin was gone.

It became an inner bead circle on the new coin.

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Syria, 10 pounds, 2003.  Reverse.

The reverse design once more depicted the ruins of Palmyra.

The previous solid line inner circle became a bead circle.


The reverse  now included a latent image.

It showed either the numerals 10 or the letters CBS.

This depended on which way the coin was tilted.

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Syria, 25 pounds, 2003.  Obverse.

The 25 pounds coin of 2003 was bimetallic.

It had a copper-nickel centre within a nickel-brass ring.

It weighed 8.4 grams and was 25 mm in diameter.


The obverse now included an inner bead circle.

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Syria, 25 pounds, 2003.  Reverse.

The reverse design once more depicted the Central Bank of Syria.

The reverse now included an inner bead circle.


The reverse  now included a latent image.

It showed either the numerals 25 or the letters CBS.

This depended on which way the coin was tilted.


Interestingly, the country name and denomination were shown in English.

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Syria, 25 pounds: left 2003, and right 1996.

Here you see the obverses of the 2003 and 1996 coins.

There are significant differences between the two.


The 1996 version shows an arabesque in the outer circle.

The 2003 version shows the country name and denomination in Arabic.


The 1996 version does not show the denomination numerals.

The 2003 version does, either side of the eagle.


The two stars on the 2003 version have a central indentation.

The two stars on the 1996 version do not.


The 2003 version has a bead circle.

The 1996 version has no bead circle.

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Syria, 25 pounds: left 2003, and right 1996.

Here you see the reverses of the 2003 and 1996 coins.

There are significant differences between the two.


The pictorial design on the 2003 version is smaller.

This is because of the denomination numerals.

They extend onto the inner ring of the coin.


The legend on the 2003 version is mainly in English.

The Arabic script over the building reads Central Bank of Syria.


The 2003 version has a latent image and an inner bead circle.

The 1996 version has neither of these.

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1996 SERIES
                                                                                                               

VALUE	DIAMETER	WEIGHT	THICKNESS
1 pound	25 mm	5.0 g	1.5 mm
2 pounds	23 mm	6.0 g	2.0 mm
5 pounds	24 mm	5.0 g	1.42 mm
10 pounds	26 mm	7.0 g	1.78 mm
25 pounds	25 mm	6.45 g	1.87 mm

2003 SERIES
                                                     

VALUE	DIAMETER	WEIGHT	THICKNESS
5 pounds	25 mm	7.5 g	2.3 mm
10 pounds	27 mm	9.5 g	2.16 mm
25 pounds	25 mm	8.0 g	2.23 mm

We see that the 5, 10 and 25 pounds of 2003 were now somewhat heavier.

They were also significantly thicker than before.

The 5 and 10 pounds of 2003 were also now 1 mm wider in diameter.