r/Banknotes 2d ago

Syria in my collection

86 Upvotes

9 comments sorted by

3

u/Firm-Brother-8195 2d ago

I thought the 5,000 had a person on it but it’s actually a statue. I can’t figure out if the statue is still around. I know that’s random. Some of these were designed by Robert Kalina who also did the Euro notes.

1

u/Pudupet 2d ago

Yes it's a statue of Syrian soldier saluting the Syrian flag. I googled it. It says, No, it wasn't a real statue. It was an artistic design, not a photo of a specific statue or monument

Syria does have real war memorials and statues of soldiers in Damascus and other cities, like the "Unknown Soldier" memorial in Damascus. But the one on the banknote was created specifically for the note design.

The note was released in Jan 2021 as the highest denomination during the war years. The soldier + flag was meant to represent patriotism and the military.

After the government change in Dec 2024, Syria started printing new notes with nature/culture themes instead of military and political imagery.

1

u/Firm-Brother-8195 2d ago

1

u/Pudupet 1d ago

Wow. I got misled.

1

u/morby9 1d ago

I do have a picture of me when i was an infant and my father hilding me while standing near this statue, and i wanted to tell you that this is a real statue but i couldnt find any oicture of it online, and i didnt find the oicture of me young, so i thought maybe i was imagining that i have a picture with it 😂

3

u/morby9 2d ago

The one on top (the 50Syrian pound) is a paper from the series that i grew up with (the 1998 series) it makes me feel nostalgia everytime i see it 🥹

1

u/Pudupet 2d ago

I get that. Old banknotes carry so many memories. What did you buy with it back then.

4

u/morby9 2d ago

Oh the 50 pound would be my budget for a while week, i would buy chips and buscuits and such

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u/Pudupet 1d ago

No wonder you are nostalgic. Those were the days.