50 Syrian Pounds

Syria's Central Bank has issued 50-pound notes across multiple series going back decades, but a 2025-dated example is notable simply for existing. By 2025, Syria remained under sweeping U.S. and EU sanctions, and the pound had lost well over 99% of its pre-2011 value against the dollar on the parallel market. Printing new notes at the 50-pound denomination — worth a fraction of a U.S. cent at street rates — suggests this is more about replacing worn stock than addressing transactional demand at any meaningful level.

Pick #121 is a recent addition to the catalog; documentation on this specific issue remains thin at the time of writing.