5 Piastres

The watermark change mid-series is the most telling detail here. Notes through series U/11 carry the pyramid watermark, then from U/11 onward the design shifts to a crown-and-letters watermark — a direct consequence of the July 1952 Revolution deposing King Farouk and the subsequent abolition of the monarchy in 1953. The crown watermark paper stock had been ordered before the political transition; its brief appearance in mid-1956 issues suggests the Survey of Egypt was burning through remaining inventory before retiring the old stock entirely.

Three Ministers of Finance signed across this relatively short run — El Emary, El Sherif, and El Kaissouny — the rapid succession reflecting the turbulent early years of Nasser's government.