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10 Pounds al-Azhar Mosque
| Issuer | Central Bank of Egypt |
|---|---|
| Year | 1982 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | 37 mm |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Arabic (kufic) |
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| Reverse description | A detailed architectural view of the al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo dominates the central field, depicting the complex with its multiple minarets, domes, and arched gateways rendered in fine relief. Rays of light emanate from behind the mosque's central structure, symbolising the institution's role as a beacon of Islamic learning. Above the mosque, a curved Arabic Quranic inscription arcs along the upper portion of the field. The border is decorated with a continuous ring of small ornamental devices. The overall composition presents a dignified and scholarly tribute to one of the world's oldest universities and mosques. |
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| Additional information |
Issued to commemorate the millennial anniversary of al-Azhar's founding in 970–972 AD by the Fatimid general Jawhar al-Siqilli, this piece was part of Egypt's broader program of commemorative gold struck through the late Sadat and early Mubarak years. Al-Azhar's role as the oldest continuously operating university in the world made it a politically useful symbol for a government navigating the tension between secularist governance and Islamic institutional authority — particularly in the years immediately following Sadat's assassination in October 1981.
Struck in 22-karat gold at 40 grams, production quantities were modest and the issue saw minimal circulation.