500 Pounds

Syria's 1958 issue came during a politically volatile moment — the country had just merged with Egypt in February of that year to form the United Arab Republic, yet the Central Bank of Syria continued issuing notes under its own name throughout the transition. Enschedé in Haarlem, whose relationship with Near Eastern central banks stretched back decades, produced this series with their characteristically clean intaglio work.

The 500 Pound denomination was the highest in this issue, making surviving circulated examples uncommon. High-value notes in Syrian commerce of the period moved through relatively few hands before being retired.