50 Pounds 15th Hijrah Century, Obverse Prueba

Issued to mark the start of the fifteenth century of the Islamic calendar — 1 Muharram 1400 AH fell on November 20, 1979 — this prueba (proof or pattern strike) was produced for presentation and approval purposes rather than general release. Sudan was in the midst of Nimeiry's Islamization program at the time, which would culminate in the formal imposition of sharia law in 1983, making commemoratives tied to Islamic milestones a politically charged priority. The uncertainty over composition recorded in standard references suggests approval-stage pieces were struck in multiple materials before a final specification was confirmed.