50 Baisa - Said Gold

This piece belongs to the final year of Said bin Taimur's rule — a sultanate that had, under his deliberate isolationism, banned most imports, forbidden schools and hospitals, and kept the country in enforced medievalism well into the twentieth century. The gold issue was part of a small commemorative program; within months, Said was deposed in a bloodless palace coup by his son Qaboos, backed by British military officers, on July 23, 1970. The sultanate's name changed almost immediately thereafter.

KM#40a distinguishes the gold striking from the standard currency issue. Survival rates are limited by low original mintage figures.