Coinage of Kuwait

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Map of the Arabian peninsula.




Map of Kuwait.

From Wikipedia:

Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is an Arab country in Western Asia. Situated in the northeastern edge of the Arabian peninsula at the tip of the Persian Gulf, it shares borders with Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south. The name "Kuwait" is the diminutive of Arabic كوت kūt, meaning "fortress". The country covers an area of 17,820 square kilometers (6,880 square miles) and according to CIA has a population of 2.6 million as of 2012.

After World War I, Kuwait emerged as an independent sheikhdom under the protection of the British Empire. Kuwait's oil fields were discovered in 1937. Kuwait gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1961. In 1990, Kuwait was invaded and annexed by neighboring Iraq. The seven month-long Iraqi occupation came to an end after direct military intervention by United States-led forces. Kuwait's infrastructure was badly damaged during the war and had to be rebuilt.

Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. It is often described as the most liberal country in the region. Kuwait City serves as the country's political and economic capital. The country has the world's fifth largest oil reserves and is the eighth richest country in the world per capita. Kuwait is classified as a high income economy by the World Bank and is designated as a major non-NATO ally of the United States.

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Flag of Kuwait.

The dinar was introduced in 1961 to replace the Gulf rupee.

It was divided into 1000 fils.

Coins were issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 fils.

The 1 fils coin is no longer issued.

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National Emblem of Kuwait.

The Emblem of Kuwait was adopted in 1962.

It consists of the shield of the flag design in color.

It is superimposed on a golden falcon (Hawk of Quraish) with wings displayed.


The falcon supports a disk containing a boom sailing ship, a type of dhow.

The full name of the state is written in Arabic at the top of the disk.

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Since it was first issued, the obverse of the Kuwait coinage has depicted the boom from the national emblem.

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The reverses of the coinage are quite plain.

They show the denomination (within a circle) and the country name.

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In 1976 Kuwait issued a 2 dinar coin to commemorate the 15th anniversary of independence. 

Christopher Ironside designed the obverse of the coin, which depicts Sheikh Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah, who was the last Sheikh and first Emir of Kuwait and who witnessed the independence of Kuwait, and his half-brother Sabah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah, who succeeded him and was Emir at the time the coin was struck.

The reverse was designed by Barry Stanton. It depicts the gate of the old wall of Kuwait City; a dhow - a traditional sailing boat used throughout the region; and an oil derrick, the main source of wealth for the country.

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Another important commemorative coin was the 2 dinars issued in 1995.

It celebrated the 50th anniversary of the United Nations.


The legend, "United in peace", was particularly poignant.

Kuwait had been invaded by Iraq only 4 years earlier.

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Kuwait, 5 dinars, 2016.

25th Anniversary of the liberation and independence of Kuwait, after its invasion by Iraq

A collector coin in silver and gold- plated silver, with a face value of 5 dinars.