asia: ...Syria - Full Set Dated 2025

ٱلْجُمْهُورِيَّةُ ٱلْعَرَبِيَّةُ ٱلسُّورِيَّةُ

(Syrian Arab Republic)

مصرف سورية المركزي

(Central Bank of Syria)

Currency - Pound (SYP)

Here is a full set of new banknotes issued on 01.01.2026. This series is issued as a reform currency that replaced the previous series of banknotes issued under the regime of Bashar-al-Assad at a ratio of 1:100.

Obviously, the purpose of this new serious are due to the following reasons: -

1) To remove all images of Bashar al-Assad and father Hafez al-Assad in a symbolic break with the past. However, the new government has not demonetised these old notes yet and they can still be acceptable until the end of March 2026;

2) Currency reform by removing two zeros which will facilitate daily transactions more easily as the highest denomination is 500 pounds which is equate to 50,000 pounds of the previous series. Prior to this new series, Syrians need to carry large quantities of cash for daily basic purchases. The Syrian currency collapsed since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, with the exchange rate of the time approximately 47 Syrian pounds to a US dollar. In July, it deteriorated to 515 Syrian pound per US$. By April 2023, it went up to 7,500 pounds per US$ and by the end of 2023, the Syrian pounds was worth 15,000 to a US$. The currency currently (early January 2026) was traded at approximately 11,000 pounds per dollar, requiring Syrians to carry large amounts of cash for basic purchases. "If someone wants to buy something simple, they need to carry bags in order to trade, so people go for dollars," al-Sharaa said.

3) This new series is an expression of the new national identity and a move away from political imagery of the past.

This new series was launched by Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on 29.12.2025 with circulation commenced on 01.01.2026.

The theme for this new series features agricultural themes, roses, wheat, olives, oranges and mulberries, whilst on the back, it depicts the country's central bank building.

Ten Pounds

Front - Main image is a rose (flower) and to the far left is a butterfly.

Governor - Abdul Qader Hosriya or Abdulkader Husrieh (since March 2025)

Watermark - emblem of Syria and electrotype 10

Sizes - 159mm x 66mm

Back - On the back, the designs are all the same. It depicts the central bank building from the front. The bank is located in the capital city of Damascus. The central bank was established in 1959 and commenced operation in August 1956. It is not sure when this building was built but it was partially damaged during the civil war that started in 2011. During the fall of the Assad regime, some money was stolen by looters but the main vault was untouched.