Stars of Syria

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Here is an illustration of the flags of Syria since 1958. The images are taken from Wikipedia.

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Syria, 25 piastres, 1958.

This was when Syria was part of the United Arab Republic, along with Egypt. The stars represented the two countries.

See Wikipedia: United Arab Republic.

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Syria, 1 pound, 1968.



Between 1963 and 1972, Syria used a flag with three stars.

From Wikipedia:

Originally, the three red stars represented the three districts of Syria, Aleppo, Damascus, and Deir ez-Zor. In 1936, the Sanjak of Latakia and Jebel Druze were added to Syria, and the representation of the three stars was changed, with the first representing the districts of Aleppo, Damascus and Deir ez-Zor, the second Jebel Druze, and the final star representing Sanjak of Latakia.[12] The flag was officially hoisted in Damascus on 11 June 1932, but was previously flown in Aleppo on 1 January 1932.[12] The flag was used as a symbol for Syrians to rally around when France reneged on its agreement to leave the country, due to the outbreak of World War II.[16] The standard was used until the creation of the United Arab Republic, a state union of Syria and Egypt, in 1958. After the collapse of the United Arab Republic, Syria used the UAR's flag until 28 September 1961, when it was replaced by the independence flag to disassociate Syria from the former failed union.

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Syria, 5 piastres, 1976.  No stars on this emblem.







President Hafez al-Assad adopted the new flag on 1 January 1972, when Syria joined Egypt and Libya in the Federation of Arab Republics. The green stars were replaced by the Hawk of Quraish (the symbol of the tribe of the Prophet Muhammad). The eagle held the ribbon with name of the Federation, but unlike Egypt and Libya, Syria did not include its name on the coat of arms. This flag was an official flag during the October War in 1973. The Federation was dissolved in 1977, but Syria continued to use the flag for the next three years.

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From Wikipedia:

The flag was abrogated on 29 March 1980 and replaced by the current two-star flag in order to show Syria's commitment to Arab unity.

However, the Syrian coinage used three stars from 1979 to 1994. So is Wikipedia wrong about the flags?

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Syria, 2 pounds, 1996, featuring the ruins of Palmyra.

From 1996, Syrian coins use two stars.





The last Syrian coins were issued in 2003, and they too show two stars.



Wikipedia states that the current two star flag shows Syria's continued commitment to Arab unity. But what kind of unity? Unity between Syria and Egypt once more?

 

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See also: Syria: Scenic Landmarks Series, 1996/2003.