5 EGP #163

Front

Ancient Egyptian motifs depicting scenes from pharaonic civilization including agricultural workers in the lower register and a central figure playing a harp, representing Egypt's rich cultural heritage. The imagery draws from temple reliefs and tomb paintings that documented daily life and religious practices in ancient Egypt. These scenes symbolize the continuity between ancient and modern Egyptian identity, a recurring theme on Central Bank of Egypt banknotes from this era.

Back

The Mosque of Ibn Tulun in Cairo, completed in 879 CE and one of the oldest mosques in Egypt still standing in its original form. Built by Ahmad ibn Tulun, founder of the Tulunid dynasty, it features a distinctive spiral minaret (malwiya) and is the largest mosque in Cairo by area. The mosque represents Islamic architectural heritage and is a UNESCO-recognized monument, symbolizing Egypt's medieval Islamic Golden Age and its position as a center of Islamic civilization.

History

This five pound note is part of a series issued by the Central Bank of Egypt during the 1990s-2000s period. The design combines pharaonic motifs on the obverse with Islamic architecture on the reverse, reflecting Egypt's dual identity as inheritor of both ancient Egyptian and Islamic civilizations. The note features extensive Arabic text and Eastern Arabic numerals alongside Western Arabic numerals. This series was eventually replaced by newer designs with enhanced security features.