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50 Qirsh Evacuation of the British
| Issuer | Central Bank of Egypt |
|---|---|
| Year | 1956 |
| Type | Commemorative circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Central field dominated by a large stylised winged scarab beetle rendered in the ancient Egyptian artistic tradition, its outstretched wings filling the lower half of the design. Above the scarab, the denomination '50' is inscribed in large Arabic-Eastern numerals, with the word 'Qirsh' (قرش) directly below. The legend 'جمهورية مصر' (Republic of Egypt) arches across the upper field, and the dual date '١٣٧٥ - ١٩٥٦' (AH 1375 / AD 1956) appears beneath the denomination. The entire design is contained within a decorative segmented border of alternating raised blocks. |
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| Reverse description | Central design features a striding male figure rendered in the style of ancient Egyptian bas-relief, facing right with one arm raised aloft holding a lit torch and the other arm extended horizontally, symbolising liberation and national pride. The figure wears a traditional Egyptian kilt and broad collar. To the right, the Arabic inscription 'عيد الجلاء' (Evacuation Day) is arranged vertically in the field. To the left, the date '١٨ يونيه ١٩٥٦' (18 June 1956) is inscribed in two lines. A decorative chevron pattern borders the base of the design, and the rim is framed by the same segmented raised-block border as the obverse. |
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| Additional information |
Issued to mark the withdrawal of British forces from the Suez Canal Zone, completed in June 1956 after nearly 74 years of occupation — a process that had been negotiated under the Anglo-Egyptian Agreement of 1954. Nasser's government moved quickly to commemorate the departure, and this coin was struck the same year the Canal itself would be nationalized, just weeks after the last British soldier left.
The timing makes this one of the more politically charged commemoratives in Egyptian numismatics. The nationalization of the Suez Canal in July 1956 triggered the Suez Crisis within months, lending the coin's optimism a certain historical irony.