Bank.notes

Collection Saudi Arabia #691

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25 Riyal

Saudi Arabia 1946_1989 VF P-10 Needs review ✦ AI 88%
Front · IMG_6698.jpeg cropped
Back · IMG_6699.jpeg cropped
Pair check: not yet checked
Identity

Where & when

Country Saudi Arabia
Currency Riyal
Denomination 25
Series name Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency Pilgrim's Receipts
Series year
Issue year
Era 1946_1989
Legal status demonetized
Predecessor currency
Successor currency Saudi Riyal (regular issue)
Subjects & design

What's on the note

Front portrait
Reverse subject Arabian horses
Watermark
Color palette #8b9b7a,#2f4f2f,#d4c9a8
Themes wildlife,transport,commemorative
Language / script Arabic script with English

Front: Safe conduct pass issued by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency for pilgrims to Mecca. The front features extensive Arabic text providing security instructions and terms of use, with 'SAFE CONDUCT PASS' printed in English on the left margin. These special receipts were issued to Hajj pilgrims from 1953-1956 to facilitate secure currency exchange during the pilgrimage season, representing an innovative early measure by SAMA to protect pilgrims from exploitation and currency fraud.

Back: Two Arabian horses in profile at center, facing right, rendered in detailed intaglio engraving. The Arabian horse is central to Saudi culture and history, having been bred on the Arabian Peninsula for millennia and serving as the foundation for modern light horse breeds worldwide. The denomination '25' appears in Arabic-Indic numerals (٢٥) in all four corners, with 'المملكة العربية السعودية' (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) inscribed at top center in ornate Arabic calligraphy.

Production

How it was made

Issuer Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency
Issuer (native) مؤسسة النقد العربي السعودي
Printer
Engraver
Material paper
Dimensions (mm)

Security features: intaglio,microprint

Geography

Saudi Arabia in Asia

Saudi Arabia in Asia. Other countries on the same continent shown in muted grey.

The story

Background & history

This is a Saudi Arabian Hajj Pilgrim's Receipt from the early SAMA series (P-10), issued 1953-1956. These special-purpose notes were created by the newly-established Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (founded 1952) specifically for use by pilgrims during the Hajj season. They served as secure currency receipts that pilgrims could exchange for local currency, protecting them from fraud and exploitation by money changers. The system was discontinued in 1956 when regular SAMA banknotes became widely available. The series included denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 riyals. These pilgrim receipts are historically significant as among the first issues of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency and represent an early Islamic finance innovation. The horse imagery reflects Saudi Arabia's deep cultural connection to Arabian horse breeding.

Catalogue

Collector references

Pick # 10
Krause ID
Rarity tier scarce
Series range 1953-1956
Provenance

How it came to me

Acquired date
Acquired from
Acquired price
Currency
Condition
Grade VF
Serial number 297221

Note shows typical circulation wear with even aging and toning throughout. No tears or major defects visible. Text remains legible.

Valuation

What it's worth now

$50–$150
Type default range $50–$150
Valuation history (1)
datelowhighcurrencysourcenote
2026-05-10 09:30:23 50.0 150.0 USD ai from claude-sonnet-4-5
Technical

History & extractions

AI extractions (1)
anthropic · claude-sonnet-4-5 2026-05-10 09:30:23
status: ok · step 1 · $0.0399 · 7231↓ + 1214↑ tokens
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