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Auction: 25100 - World Banknotes - e-Auction
Lot: 720

(x) Banque de Syrie, Syria, specimen 100 Livres Syriennes, Beyrouth, 1st January 1920,

Banque de Syrie (Bank of Syria) was founded on 2nd January 1919, with its headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon. The bank was granted exclusive authority for 15 years to issue a single currency- the Syrian pound, which would circulate across both Syria and Lebanon.

Beirut, the vibrant capital, became the centre of this new financial system. At the time, it was a bustling port and a crossroads of cultures from both the East and the West. Its cosmopolitan nature reflected the region's complex mix of tradition and modernization. However, beneath the surface, there was growing discontent. The imposition of French rule and changing economic conditions created unease among the local populations. While urban centres like Beirut and Damascus saw commercial growth, rural communities and the working class struggled to adapt to the new economic realities.

The Banque de Syrie itself underwent a rapid transformation. In 1924, just five years after its founding, the bank was renamed the Banque de Syrie et du Grand-Liban (Bank of Syria and Greater Lebanon) on 22nd January 1924. This short lifespan under its original name likely limited the opportunities to issue large quantities of currency, making notes from this period even rarer. As a result, surviving notes from the Banque de Syrie era, such as this 100 Livres Syriennes specimen are exceptionally scarce today.

The number of 100 Livres Syriennes issued remains unconfirmed, with no circulating examples known to exist. As a result, the specimen is the only known form of this design, offering collectors a rare opportunity to acquire a piece of numismatic history,

(Pick 10s, PCLB 10), about uncirculated to uncirculated, PMG grades will be confirmed before the auction closes

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate

Starting price
£1200