...Qatar - 2022 Fifth Series of Banknotes Reprints Hybrid

 دولة قطر

(State of Qatar)

مصرف قطر المركزي

(Qatar Central Bank, est.1973)

Currency - Riyal (QAR)

 

These are the full set of seven notes all printed with the year date of 2022. These are the reprints of the fifth series, first issued on 18.12.2020 to coincide with the country's National Day celebration in 2020. I have been holding back from posting this set as I was missing the 100 riyal denomination to complete my collection for this series until now.

 

As these are reprints, there are no changes to the design of the notes, except the year date of 2022 and the two new signatures on the notes.

 

The design on the front for all the denominations share a common theme with a Qatari Coat of Arms,  traditional Qatari geometric designs, the flag of the State of Qatar, image of a Qatari flora called Dreama (printed on the image of the gate), and a large ornate gate representing the historical Qatari architecture. On the back, this fifth series features an array of beautiful images that reflect Qatar's history and embody the country's heritage, environment, sports, economy, and health. It also highlights some of Qatar's most prominent tourist attractions, old and new. On the front all text is printed with Arabic writing, whilst on the back are all in English language. The English writing on the back is all written in Edwardian Script style. All notes are printed with the year date of 2022 (٢٠٢٢). 

These notes are reportedly printed by De La Rue. 

One Riyal

 

Front - The theme for this series is Qatari traditional culture. The design on the front for all 7 notes are the same, except for the denomination values. The main features are the National flag of Qatar of white and maroon colours. A Dreama flower with rolling colour when titled, and a gate representing historical Qatari architecture. The national emblem of Qatar. The emblem design comprises a Dhow floating on water with two palm trees and supported by two scimitars.

 

Governor - Sheikh Bandar b Mohammed b Saoud Al-Thani (2021-)

Minister of Finance - Ali bin Ahmed al Kuwari (since 2021) 

Watermarks - State of Qatar Crest and electrotype 1

Dimensions - 135mm x 67mm

 

Back - Qatari traditional dhow called Bateel (or batil or Battil). The Bateel is a common dhow used by the people living in the Persian Gulf region, as well as other Arab countries too. On the right is the Oyster and Pearl monument, which was built in 2006. This is a sculpture depicting an open oyster shell with a gigantic peal in it. This monument also served as a fountain and is located at Corniche Street in the capital city of Doha. It is a popular photo stop for the locals as well as overseas visitors too.

 

Five Riyals

 

Front - The theme for this series is Qatari traditional culture with the National flag of Qatar of white and maroon colours. A Dreama flower with rolling colour when titled, and a gate representing historical Qatari architecture. The national emblem of Qatar. The emblem design comprises a Dhow floating on water with two palm trees and supported by two scimitars.

Governor - Sheikh Bandar b Mohammed b Saoud Al-Thani (2021-)

Minister of Finance - Ali bin Ahmed al Kuwari (since 2021) 

Watermarks - State of Qatar Crest and electrotype 5

Dimensions - 141mm x 68mm

 

Back - Theme Flora and Fauna. The designs depict a desert scene together with fauna like the Arab horses, camel, oryxes and flora (Al Qataf). On the background it also printed with a  hair tent (buryuut hajar).

 

 

Ten Riyals

 

Front - The theme for this series is Qatari traditional culture with the National flag of Qatar of white and maroon colours. A Dreama flower with rolling colour when titled, and a gate representing historical Qatari architecture. The national emblem of Qatar. The emblem design comprises a Dhow floating on water with two palm trees and supported by two scimitars.

 

Governor - Sheikh Bandar b Mohammed b Saoud Al-Thani (2021-)

Minister of Finance - Ali bin Ahmed al Kuwari (since 2021) 

Watermarks - State of Qatar Crest and electrotype 10

Dimensions - 148mm x 70mm

 

Back - Theme Sport and Education. The main features are the Lusail Stadium and The Torch Tower (Aspire Zone). The Lusail Stadium or Lusail Iconic Stadium is the biggest stadium ever built in Qatar, and hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup final on 18.12.2022. Building for this stadium was completed in April 2021. It has a maximum capacity of 80,000 people. The Torch Tower is a 300-meter tall skyscraper hotel located in Doha, which was built in 2007. The Sidra Medicine and Education City (Qatar Foundation) was founded in 1995 and is a state-led non-profit organisation.

 

Fifty Riyals

 

Front - The theme for this series is Qatari traditional culture with the National flag of Qatar of white and maroon colours. A Dreama flower with rolling colour when titled, and a gate representing historical Qatari architecture. The national emblem of Qatar. The emblem design comprises a Dhow floating on water with two palm trees and supported by two scimitars.

 

Governor - Sheikh Bandar b Mohammed b Saoud Al-Thani (2021-)

Minister of Finance - Ali bin Ahmed al Kuwari (since 2021) 

Watermarks - State of Qatar Crest and electrotype 50

Dimensions - 153.5mm x 71mm

 

Back - The Qatar Central Bank building (left) and the Ministry of Finance building (right). The construction for the Qatar Central Bank building started in 2020

 

 

 

One Hundred Riyals

 

Front - The theme for this series is Qatari traditional culture with the National flag of Qatar of white and maroon colours. A Dreama flower with rolling colour when titled, and a gate representing historical Qatari architecture. The national emblem of Qatar. The emblem design comprises a Dhow floating on water with two palm trees and supported by two scimitars.

 

Governor - Sheikh Bandar b Mohammed b Saoud Al-Thani (2021)

Minister of Finance - Ali bin Ahmed al Kuwari (since 2021) 

Watermarks - State of Qatar Crest and electrotype 100

Dimensions - 153.5mm x 71mm 

Back - Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque. This mosque was opened in 2011, and has a capacity of 30,000 people. The building comprises 90 domes and one minaret. 

 

 

Two Hundred Riyals

 

Front - The theme for this series is Qatari traditional culture with the National flag of Qatar of white and maroon colours. A Dreama flower with rolling colour when titled, and a gate representing historical Qatari architecture. The national emblem of Qatar. The emblem design comprises a Dhow floating on water with two palm trees and supported by two scimitars.

 

Governor - Sheikh Bandar b Mohammed b Saoud Al-Thani (2021-)

Minister of Finance - Ali bin Ahmed al Kuwari (since 2021) 

Watermarks - State of Qatar Crest and electrotype 200

Dimensions - 165.5mm x 74.5mm

 

Back - Image of the Palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani which was once the residence of Sheikh Abdullan bin Jsaaim Al Thani. In 1972, this historical building was converted into a museum, called the Qatar National Museum. In the background is the Museum of Islamic Art.

Five Hundred Riyals 

 

Front - The theme for this series is Qatari traditional culture with the National flag of Qatar of white and maroon colours. A Dreama flower with rolling colour when titled, and a gate representing historical Qatari architecture. The national emblem of Qatar. The emblem design comprises a Dhow floating on water with two palm trees and supported by two scimitars.

 

Governor - Sheikh Bandar b Mohammed b Saoud Al-Thani (2021-)

Minister of Finance - Ali bin Ahmed al Kuwari (since 2021) 

Watermarks - State of Qatar Crest and electrotype 500

Dimensions - 171.5mm x 75.5mm

 

Back - Image of the Ras Laffan LNG refinery which is situated in the north-east of Qatar. There are Laffan Refinery 1 and Laffan Refinery 2. The first refinery commenced operation in 2009 and the second one started in 2016. A LNG canter ship is docking at the port. A LNG carrier is designed for transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) for export. The largest LNG canter ship can carry up to 266,000 cubic meters or 9,400,000 cubic feet of LNG.

...Syria - 50, 100, 200, And 2000 Pounds All Dated 2021 (Missing 5000 Pounds)

ٱلْجُمْهُورِيَّةُ ٱلْعَرَبِيَّةُ ٱلسُّورِيَّةُ

 (Syrian Arab Republic)

مصرف سورية المركزي

(Central Bank of Syria)

 Currency - Pound (SYP)

 

Below are four notes all printed with the year date of 2021. A complete full set comprises five notes but I am still missing the 5000 pounds note.

 

Fifty Pounds

Front - Ugarit alphabet on ancient cuneiform clay tablets from Ebla.

 

Signatures

Minister of Finance - Kenan Yaghi

Governor - Hazem Karfoul

Watermarks - Head of a horse & electrotype 50 

Dimensions - 136.5mm x 66mm

 

Back - Library building in Damascus. Monument of Hafez al-Assad, President of Syria from 1971 to until his death in 2000.

 

 

One Hundred Pounds

Signatures

Minister of Finance - Kenan Yaghi

Governor - Hazem Karfoul

Dimensions - Head of a horse and electrotype 100

Dimensions - 141mm x 65.5mm

 

 

Two Hundred Pounds 

 

Signatures

Minister of Finance - Kenan Yaghi

Governor - Hazem Karfoul

Watermarks - Head of a horse and electrotype 200 

Dimensions - 145.5mm x 66mm

Two Thousand Pounds 

Front - Mosque at the center. Bashar al-Assad at right. Bashar al-Assad was the second son of the late Syrian President, Hafez al-Assad (b.1930-2000). He succeeded his father as President of Syria in 2000 following the death of his father from a heart attack. He only became the heir apparent following the death of his eldest brother in a car accident in 1994. At the time of his father's death, Bashar al-Assad was only 34 years old and was not qualified to take over the President role as the minimum age required was 40. To overcome this, Parliament then reduced the requirement to Bashar's age so that he can become the next President. He was President of Syria from 2000 to 2024 when he was forced into exile by the rebel group headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa. It is believed that Bashar al-Assad is now living in Moscow, Russia. It is also reported that he has gone back to school to brush up with his ophthalmology lessons. Ophthalmology is a passion of his and if he is to return to this profession, it is expected that he will target those wealthy elites in Moscow as his clientele. 

 

Signatures

Minister of Finance - Kenan Yaghi

Governor - Hazem Karfoul

Watermarks - Coat of Arms and electrotype 2000 

Dimensions - 159mm x 65mm

 

Back - Parliament chamber - People's Council of Syria chambers.

 Five Thousand Pounds (Missing)

...Syria - 2000 Pounds Dated 2018

ٱلْجُمْهُورِيَّةُ ٱلْعَرَبِيَّةُ ٱلسُّورِيَّةُ

(Syrian Arab Republic)

مصرف سورية المركزي

(Central Bank of Syria)

Currency - Pound (SYP)

 

This is an odd note of 2000 pounds dated 2018. This Syrian 2000 pounds was first introduced in 2015. Since then reprints have been issued with the year dates of 2017, 2018 and 2021. Here I have posted one that was printed with the year date of 2018. I understand that this is the only note issued with the year date of 2018.

Two Thousand Pounds

President Hashar Hafiz al-Assad (b.1965)

 

Front - The main feature for this note is the portrait of former Syrian President Hashar Hafiz al-Assad (b.1965). He became the President of Syria, at the age of 35, following the death of his father, the late President Hafez Al-Assad (b.1930-2000) on 10.06.2000. At the time of the death of President Hafez Al-Assad, the Syrian's constitution stated that no one should be appointed to the country's President position unless that person is 40 and above years old. Since Hashar Hafiz al-Assad was only 35 years old then, the constitution was amended to enable him to ascend to the post. In March 2011, civil war started following a pro-democracy demonstration. On 27.11.2024, an anti government erupted which led to the beginning of the fall of Hashar Hafiz al-Assad's government. On 08.12.2024, he fled Syria when the capital city of Damascus was seized by the opposition forces and it is believed that he and his family are now residing in Russia. His departure ended 54 years of the Assad family's rule in Syria. Every banknote tells an interesting story.

 

Printed in the center is the Omayyad mosque in the capital city of Damascus. The mosque was built in 715 AD. This mosque is also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus.

 

Signature - unknown to me

Watermark - Coat of Arms and electrotype 2000

Dimensions - 159mm x 65mm

 

Back - People's Council of Syria in Damascus. This is a 250 seats parliament with members elected for a 4-year term. The parliament sits a minimum of three times a year.

People's Council of Syria

...South Ossetia (Georgia) - 100 Zarin Investment Banknote 2025

Republic of South Ossetia

(State of Alania - disputed territory)

 

The National Bank of South Ossetia

Currency - Zarin 

This is a commemorative note of 100 zarin, reportedly issued on 19.09.2025. The note was issued to celebrate the First International Economic Forum (not confirmed).

In case you wonder, South Ossetia is a disputed territory which is internationally recognised as part of Georgia. South Ossetia is located in the central north of Georgia and has a population of approximately 57,000+/-. On 01.08.2008, hostility started when a bomb exploded and targeted a car carrying Georgian peacekeepers. Fighting then broke out between the Georgian army and the people of South Ossetia (South Ossetian separatists) backed by the Russian army. The Russians blamed the incident on the Georgian government and launched a large-scale land, air and sea invasion of Georgia. A ceasefire agreement was reached on 12.08.2008 and Russia announced the withdrawal of troops on 17.08.2008. On 26.08.2008, Russia recognised both South Ossetia and Abkhazia as separate independent states. In response, the Georgian government severed diplomatic relations with Russia. Since the hostility started, Georgia has maintained that both South Ossetia and Abkhazia are Russian-occupied Georgian territories.

As at 2024, only five members of the United Nations recognise South Ossetia as a sovereign state and they are Russia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Syria and Venezuela.

It is reportedly that a total of 20,000 pieces were printed. According to the authority, there are more banknotes for other denominations to come at a later date.

Like those issued by Abkhazia, this note is also an Investment commemorative note. To be honest, I have no idea what this means. 

One Hundred Zarin 

Front - Persian leopard. Mount Burkhokh is printed in the background. This mountain is situated in South Ossetia, and it is also known as Mount Khalatsa or Mount Halaskhokh. 

Signature - Soslan Bekoev (?)

Date - 2025

Watermark - Face of Persian leopard

Sizes - 157.5mm x 69mm

Back - A portrait of Kosta Levanovich Khetagurov (Poet b.1859-1906). An image of the village of Nar where Khetagurov was born. To the bottom left is an Ossetian twelve stringed harp. The Coat of Arms is printed to the far right of the note. 

 

...Kazakhstan - 1000 Tenge 2025 Commemorative 80th Anniversary of End of World War II

Қазақстан Республикасы

(Republic of Kazakhstan)

 

Қазақстан Ұлттық Банкі

(National Bank of Kazakhstan, Est.1993)

Currency - Tenge (KZT)

 

Here is the 1000 tenge commemorative note reportedly released on 09.05.2025, celebrating the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War (Second World War). A total of five million pieces were issued for this commemorative series. The design for this series is completely new. This is a legal tender note in the territory of Kazakhstan. This is the 12th commemorative banknotes issued by Kazakhstan since 1993.

 

It should be noted that during the last world war, Nazi Germany did not physically occupy today's Kazakhstan. However, as Kazakhstan was then part of the Russian Empire/Soviet Union since 1840, it became involved in the war after the Germans invaded the Soviet Union in 1941. In total, more than 130,000 Kazakhs died in the war from military involvements, famines and diseases. Also as a result of the Germans invasion, many ethnic Germans from the Volga region in Russia were deported to labour camps and settlements within Kazakhstan during the war.  

 

The date May 9, in Russia is called Den's Pobedy or Victory Day (День Победы). Whilst Nazi Germany surrendered on 08.05.1945, and due to the time difference between Russia and Germany, the signing of the surrender documents took effect for the Soviet forces on 09.05.1945 and as such this day is celebrated.  

 

A few countries celebrated the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War II, countries like the United Kingdom, United States, China, France and other European nations but only Kazakhstan and the disputed territory of Transnistria have issued banknotes to commemorate this celebration.

 

 

One Thousand Tenge

Front - On the front, it depicts The Glory Memorial in Almaty, which is located in the park named after 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, a tribute to the heroes who gave their lives for their homeland. Almost 1.2 million people from Kazakhstan were mobilised for the war, which represented almost 20% of the population then. These 1.2 million people were involved in the infantry, tank units, aviation and navy. To the left, four flying cranes with another four cranes in silhouettes personify goodness and hope. Below the flying cranes is the eternal flame.

 

Signature - Timur Suleymanov (Governor)

Date - 2025

Quantity - 5 million pieces 

Watermarks - the numeral 80 and years 1941-1945

Size - 130.5mm x 70mm 

Back - An outline map of Kazakhstan printed with fragments of historical archival photographs provided by RSE 'Central State Archive of Film, Photo Documents and Sound Recordings' of the Committee of Archieve's Documentation and Book Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan (a bit of a mouth full here). To the far right is a war medal and below the medal is the commemorative logo for this series.