Catalog
25 Riyals - Rashid Martin Luther King
| Issuer | Ajman |
|---|---|
| Year | 1970 |
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| Currency | Riyal (1966-1973) |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Arabic, Latin |
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| Reverse description | A left-facing portrait bust of Martin Luther King Jr. dominates the upper field, rendered in high relief with a smooth, idealized finish characteristic of proof coinage. Below the portrait, the legend 'MARTIN LUTHER KING' is inscribed in a straight line across the lower field, followed by the denomination '25 RIYALS' in large numerals and letters. The design is framed by a beaded border running along the full circumference. The composition is commemorative in intent, honoring the American civil rights leader. |
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| Additional information |
Ajman, the smallest and poorest of the Trucial States, funded its 1960s–70s coin program almost entirely through sales to collectors rather than circulation — these issues were never intended to pass through local hands. The Martin Luther King commemorative appeared just two years after his assassination, part of a wave of foreign-issued "tribute" gold pieces targeting the American collector market, where demand for King memorabilia was acute and largely unsatisfied by U.S. Mint policy.
The series drew criticism at the time for exploiting a tragedy for numismatic revenue, with Ajman having no meaningful connection to King or the American civil rights movement.