Saudi Arabia 1999 20 Riyal Commemorative note - ٱلْمَمْلَكَة ٱلْعَرَبِيَّة ٱلسَّعُوْدِيَّة

In early 1999, to commemorate the 100th anniversary (in Hijri or lunar years) of the founding of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority issued two special banknotes: a 200 Riyals and a 20 Riyals. The 20 Riyals, pictured below, circulated alongside fourth issue banknotes with denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 Riyals.



The note's front features a portrait of King Abdulaziz, also known as Ibn Saud, the first monarch and absolute ruler of Saudi Arabia. In 1902, he conquered the modern day area of Riyadh and three decades of additional conquests gradually formed into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (K.S.A.), which he ruled from 1932 until his death in 1953. During his reign, petroleum was discovered in Saudi Arabia and following World War II - throughout which Saudi Arabia remained neutral - he oversaw the country becoming one of the world's major oil producers. All subsequent Saudi Arabian Kings descended from his 45 sons. He met with an ailing Franklin D. Roosevelt in February, 1945 on Great Bitter Lake in the Suez Canal to determine future relations between the two nations. Fueled by its vast oil wealth, Saudi Arabia modernized rapidly.

The banknote's topmost text, "مؤسسة النقد العربي السعودي," spells out "Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority" in highly ornamented calligraphic Arabic. Directly below that, the Royal Decree for the issue of banknotes displays in minuscule and barely legible text, with the Decree's date of issuance in the upper left, "١٣٧٩/٧/١" or Hijri 1379/7/1 or 1 Rajab 1379 or approximately December 30, 1959 Gregorian. Beneath the decree, "Twenty Rials" appears in much larger text, "عشرون ريالا" or "asharoona riyaalaan." The denomination's Arabic numerals, "٢٠," appear in three corners. Serial numbers duplicate vertically to the left of the portrait and horizontally at bottom left before the numeric denomination. In this case it reads "٠٨٩/٧٦١٧٨٩" or "089/761789." Each side of the portrait includes official signatures with titles, to the left the Governor, "لمحافظ," Hammad Saud al-Sayyari, and to the right, the Minister of Finance, "وزير المالية," Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Assaf. Quba Mosque, "مَسْجِد قُبَاء‎," located in Medina, sits to the lower right of the portrait. According to Islamic tradition, The Prophet Muhammad led the first Friday prayers on its current location. The original building, now demolished, may have served as the world's first mosque. A watermark appears to the left of the portrait.

The front also includes an elaborate hologram with two main views.
This view displays the emblem of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority. The center, reads "لا اله إلا الله وحده " or "There is no God but Allah," roughly the same words that appeared on the first Islamic coin (also pictured on many Saudi Arabian 1 Riyal banknotes). "Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority" in Arabic circles along the outside. Numerous emblems of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, crossed swords topped by a palm tree, appear outside the emblem.


The second view shows the Saudi Arabia centenary logo, which itself contains quite a bit of symbolism. The building represents Masmak Fortress in Riyadh, the capture of which initiated Ibn Saud's rise. Two years appear beneath the fortresses left and right towers, ١٣١٩ or 1319 and ١٤١٩ or 1419, displaying the Kingdom's 100 year span with the word "عام" between it, meaning "the year." The long vowel "Alif" serves as both a sword and as the trunk of a palm tree. "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" or "ٱلْمَمْلَكَة ٱلْعَرَبِيَّة ٱلسَّعُوْدِيَّة" appears below that in elaborate Arabic text and at the very bottom the Arabic words "توحيد و بناء" mean, roughly, "consolidation and building." Once again, emblems of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia surround the hologram's centerpiece.



On the banknote's back, a picture of Jabal-al-Nour or "جَبَل ٱلنُّوْر‎" or "Mountain of the Light," located near Mecca, appears in the center. Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad received his first recitations from the Angel Gabriel in a cave called "Hira" within this mountain. A much larger centenary logo (discussed above) appears to the left and a space for the portrait watermark appears to the right. Other security features include tiny Arabic text within small reflective rectangles running vertically on the left of Jabal-al-Nour. When held up to light, they reveal a dark inner band that appears to spell out "Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority" numerous times using alternating inversions in Arabic. A parallel vertical latent image and text running through the right of Jabal-al-Nour repeats the Emblem of Saudi Arabia and the number "20." Another thin dark band appears further to the right when held up to light.

Today, 20 S.A. Riyals equals $5.33 US, so the 1999 banknote tends to sell for far more than its current monetary value, especially in uncirculated condition. The 200 Riyals note, a little harder to find, sells for considerably more. Since the banknotes marked a significant event in the history of Saudi Arabia, both contain a plethora of cultural references, symbolism and history.

Lastly, keeping to the guidelines of this forum, this post did not and will not discuss any politics or controversies concerning Saudi Arabia. The intended focus was the meaning and language of the banknote itself.

 

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When I was in Riyadh in 1998 there was a money changer who had a shop near the Masmak Fortress. I wandered in one night when we were in the city. He sent for a translator and we conducted a brisk business. He had a box of old Saudi notes that traded at face regardless of condition. I pulled all the UNC notes I could. The only notes he sold above face were P-1, the first 10 riyal pilgrim receipt. He had dozens of them but they were 1,500 riyal each which was more than this army sergeant could afford.