Currency:“French Mandate Period – Transitional Currency – Dual Issue (Syria & Lebanon)”

Two rare notes.

1 Livre – Banque de Syrie et du Liban, Issued 1st September 1939 (yes, that September 1939… WWII vibes already).

Bottom: LIBAN – issued at Beirut

Top: SYRIE – issued at Damascus

Historical context :

• Syria & Lebanon were under French Mandate (1920–1946)
• The same currency circulated in both regions
• Issued literally as WWII began — which makes 1939 notes especially collectible
• Post-independence, both countries created their own central banks and currencies

Design highlights (aka why this note slaps)

• Baalbek Roman ruins on the left
• Trilingual text:
  • French (administration)
  • Arabic (local use)
  • English numerals influence

Two rare notes.

1 Livre – Banque de Syrie et du Liban, Issued 1st September 1939 (yes, that September 1939… WWII vibes already).

Bottom: LIBAN – issued at Beirut

Top: SYRIE – issued at Damascus

Historical context :

• Syria & Lebanon were under French Mandate (1920–1946)
• The same currency circulated in both regions
• Issued literally as WWII began — which makes 1939 notes especially collectible
• Post-independence, both countries created their own central banks and currencies

Design highlights

• Baalbek Roman ruins on the left
• Trilingual text:
  • French (administration)
  • Arabic (local use)
  • English numerals influence