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500 Afghanis - Muhammad Zahir
| Issuer | Bank of Afghanistan |
|---|---|
| Year | 1961 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | 170 x 80 mm |
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| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Portrait of King Muhammad Zahir in military uniform occupies the left portion of the note, printed in intaglio on an orange guilloche underprint. The denomination '500 AFGHANIS' appears in Western numerals at lower left, with the Pashto equivalent at right. The bank title in Arabic script runs across the top, the Afghan state arms are centered below the text block, and two signature panels with Pashto role designations appear above the serial numbers at bottom. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Signature(s) | Log in to see details |
| Protection type | Log in to see details |
| Protection description | Portrait watermark of King Muhammad Zahir. |
| Variants | Log in to see details |
| Comments |
Afghanistan's 500 Afghani notes of this period were printed by Thomas De La Rue during a stretch of relative political stability under Zahir Shah, when the government was actively courting Western economic partnerships and modernizing its banking infrastructure. The relationship with De La Rue was not incidental — it was part of a broader effort to issue currency that would be taken seriously by international trading partners skeptical of Afghan paper.
P#40A is distinguished from the closely related P#40 by signature variety, a distinction that matters more than it might appear: Afghan signature combinations in this era track specific governorships at Da Afghanistan Bank and can be used to narrow issue dates within the series.