50 EGP #164

Front

The Sultan Hassan Mosque in Cairo, a Mamluk-era mosque-madrassa complex commissioned by Sultan Hassan ibn Muhammad in the 1350s-1360s. This magnificent structure is one of the largest mosques in the world and represents the pinnacle of Mamluk architectural achievement, featuring massive stone masonry, soaring minarets, and a monumental façade. It stands near the Citadel of Cairo and has become one of Egypt's most recognizable Islamic monuments.

Back

Statue of Ramesses II (also known as Ramesses the Great, reigned circa 1279–1213 BCE), the third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty and one of ancient Egypt's most powerful and celebrated rulers. He is depicted wearing the Double Crown of Upper and Lower Egypt (pschent) and holding the crook and flail, traditional symbols of pharaonic authority. Ramesses II is renowned for his military campaigns, extensive building programs including Abu Simbel and the Ramesseum, and his exceptionally long 66-year reign. The note also features papyrus plants, symbolizing the Nile Delta and ancient Egyptian civilization.

History

This 50 piastres note is part of Egypt's modern small-denomination currency series issued by the Central Bank of Egypt beginning in 2017. The Egyptian pound is subdivided into 100 piastres (or qirsh). This series represents a continuation of Egypt's tradition of celebrating its dual heritage—both Islamic and ancient pharaonic—on its banknotes. The front features the Sultan Hassan Mosque (14th century CE), while the back honors Ramesses II (13th century BCE), spanning over three millennia of Egyptian civilization. Small-denomination notes like this remain in widespread circulation for everyday transactions.