Saudi Arabia 1 Riyal

Description

The Saudi riyal is the official currency of Saudi Arabia since the country’s creation; it is one of the first currencies in the Mediterranean region during the Ottoman era. In 1925, coins in denominations of ¼ and ½ were introduced by Ibn Saud (founder of Saudi Arabia), followed by 1 qirsh in 1926. In 1935, the first coins in the name of Saudi Arabia were issued in denominations of 1/4, ½ and 1 riyal, followed by 2 and 4 qirsh in 1957. In 1963 the halala was introduced in a denomination of 1 halala, then in 1972, 5, 10, 25 and 50 halala coins were issued, followed by a 100 halala in 1976. In 2016, the Monetary Authority of Saudi Arabia introduced a new series of coins with denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 halalas and 1 and 2 riyals.

The 1 Saudi Riyal coin front design features the portrait of Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who is the King of Saudi Arabia since 2015, an allusive sketch of vegetation with multiple figures of the National Emblem (consisting of two crossed swords with a palm tree on top) on the left. The date of issue in the Gregorian (bottom) and Islamic (top) calendar. The reverse coin design illustrates the denomination and a sketch allusive to vegetation in the left part. This coin is part of the 2016 (1438) series, its rim is plain, and its color is silver and gold.

Text: Servant of the Holy Places, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, King Salman bin ‘Abd al-‘Aziz Al Sa’ud, One Riyal, 1, 2016 1438.