Catalog
25 Livres
| Issuer | Banque de Syrie et du Liban |
|---|---|
| Year | 1952-1953 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 25 Livres |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | The central vignette presents a panoramic harbour view of Beirut rendered in fine intaglio engraving, with coastal fortifications, sailing vessels, and rocky cliffs set against a pale guilloche underprint. Denomination numeral "25" appears at the upper left and lower left corners, with an ornate arabesque cartouche at upper right carrying the Arabic numeral. Serial number and prefix letter are printed in two positions across the face. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The central vignette presents a stone arch bridge spanning a calm river gorge, framed by rocky cliffs and dense vegetation in a finely engraved landscape composition. Denomination numeral "25" appears at the upper left and lower right corners, with an Arabic numeral cartouche at upper right. The bank title in Arabic script runs along the upper margin, with the denomination in Arabic text along the lower margin. |
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| Comments |
The Banque de Syrie et du Liban was a French-mandated institution that found itself issuing currency for a Lebanon that had been formally independent since 1943 — an awkward arrangement that persisted until the Banque du Liban replaced it in 1964. By the time this note was printed, Syria had already broken from the shared currency system following its 1948 departure, leaving the bank effectively serving Lebanon alone under a name that no longer matched political reality.
Thomas De La Rue produced the series through the early 1950s as the bank's mandate wound down. Pick lists this type across two consecutive years, suggesting modest annual reissue rather than a single large print run.