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1/2 Rial Mirbat Fort
| Issuer | Central Bank of Oman |
|---|---|
| Year | 1977-1988 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Reference(s) | KM#58, Schön#65, Fr#8 |
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|---|---|
| Obverse script | Arabic |
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| Reverse description | The reverse presents a detailed frontal view of Mirbat Fort, a historic coastal fortification in the Dhofar region of Oman, depicted in fine engraved relief. The fort is shown with its characteristic crenellated battlements, arched windows, a flagpole bearing a pennant atop the right tower, and sparse desert vegetation in the foreground, all set against a smooth, mirror-like proof field. The Arabic inscription 'حصن مرباط' (Mirbat Fort) arcs gracefully across the upper portion of the coin above the fortification. The composition is enclosed by a reeded inner border, framing the architectural subject with precision and clarity befitting a commemorative proof issue. |
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| Additional information |
Issued as part of Oman's first gold coinage program under Sultan Qaboos, this piece commemorates the Battle of Mirbat — a July 1972 SAS action in which a small team of British special forces and Omani soldiers held off a large PFLOAG guerrilla assault on the coastal town's gendarmerie fort. The battle remained classified for years and was only publicly acknowledged long after the coins entered circulation.
The extended date range reflects periodic restrike activity rather than continuous production, a common practice with Omani gold issues of this period.