50 Qirsh / Piastres Essai

French Mandate Syria's coinage was administered through the Banque de Syrie et du Liban, and these essai pieces were struck in Paris as presentation trials submitted for official approval before any circulation issue was authorized. The 1929 series arrived at a politically charged moment — Syrian nationalist opposition to the Mandate was intensifying following the brutal suppression of the Great Syrian Revolt, and French authorities were simultaneously attempting to project administrative legitimacy through institutional currency.

Essais of this type were struck in extremely limited numbers, primarily for archival and governmental purposes. Lecompte 38 is the standard reference for this piece within the French colonial essai classification system.