This post is about the coins produced by Egypt featuring one of Egypt's engineering triumphs; the Aswan Dam. Bear with me a moment and we'll start our numismatic excursion with a photo of the Dam courtesy of Answers.com: http://www.answers.com/topic/aswan-dam-large-image When finally constructed, the As-Sadd al-Ali Dam (non Egyptians know it as the Aswan Dam) was one of the world's largest dams. To walk its length, you'd have to travel 7,027 feet (2,142 meters). It's importance to Egypt besides controlling flooding of the Nile delta for irrigation purposes, is supplying a substantive amount of Egypt's electrical needs. The project, started in 1960, took more than ten years to complete. (1971) However, with great expectations as to what the dam's eventual worth would be upon its completion in 1964 a decision was made to celebrate the completion of the first stage of the massive project by issuing silver 5, 10, 25 and 50 Piastre coins commemorating the "Diversion of the Nile". The dam is shown on one side and the denomination and date in Arabic on the other side of all four coins. All coin photos courtesy of Don's World Coin Gallery (worldcoingallery.com) except where noted: The 2.5 gram 5 Piastres silver coin is struck in .720 fine silver and contains .0579 troy ounces of silver. 500,000 were business strikes and 2,000 proofs were minted: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...964) Diversion of the Nile&query=Egypt km 404 The 5 gram 10 Piastres silver coin was struck in .720 fine silver and contains .1157 troy ounces of silver. 500,000 for circulation and 2,000 proofs: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...t km405 10 Piastres (1964)&query=Egypt km 405 The 10 gram 25 Piastres silver coin was struck in .720 fine silver and contains .2315 ounces of silver. 250,000 business strikes and 2,000 proofs: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...t km406 25 Piastres (1964)&query=Egypt km 406 The 20 gram 50 Piastres silver coin was struck in .720 fine silver and contains .4630 troy ounces of silver. It has a mintage of 250,000 pieces for circulation plus 2,000 proofs were produced: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...t km407 50 Piastres (1964)&query=Egypt km 407 The Aswan Dam was the subject on an Egyptian 1 Pound silver coin authorized in 1968. Actually the coin featured the Power Station at the Dam. The coin weighs 25 grams and has an ASW of .5787 ounces of .720 fine silver. 100,000 were minted: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...Power Station at Aswan Dam&query=Egypt km 415 Mind you a special celebration of the Aswan Dam gold (1.1956 oz. AGW)5 Pound coin (42.5 grams) was struck (5,000) in 1960, the year the project began. (Couldn't locate a photo). KM #402. Another gold (0.7314 oz. AGW) 5 Pound coin (26 grams) celebrating the "Diversion of the Nile" was struck in 1964 bearing the same design as the previous 1964 silver coins (no photo found). KM #408. Also 2,000 10 Pounds gold (1.4528 oz. AGW) coinS (52 grams) were struck in 1964 to celebrate the "Diversion of the Nile." KM #409. No photo. Thought you might enjoy the Mideast excursion... Clinker
Two FAO coins issued by Egypt in 1973/1393 apparently show the dam too: 5 milliemes (Al): http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...433 5 Milliemes (1973) FAO&query=Egypt km 433 1 pound (Ag): http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...swan Dam&src=Nicolas Dupont&query=Egypt Aswan Interestingly, later issues apparently do not feature or commemorate the Aswan Dam as far as I can tell ... Christian
