Lebanon

The Republic of Lebanon is situated on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea between Syria and Israel. Lebanon was under French control from 1920 to 1944.

Banque de Syrie et du Grand-Liban

1925-1935 Issues

B101a face
B101a face
B101a (
  • MK621
  • P-1
) 25 Piastres
Arabic text; Waterwheel of Hama on the Orontes River, Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/15/1925
  • 130 x 85mm
  • Sig 1
  • Blue “GRAND-LIBAN” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Stylized wheat and leaves
(F+B)
B102a face
B102a face
B102a (
  • MK622
  • P-2
  • PCLB-22a-b
) 50 Piastres
Arabic text; View of Village and Mosque
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/15/1925
  • 140 x 97mm
  • Sig 1
  • Blue “GRAND-LIBAN” on back

  • Watermark: Stylized wheat and leaves
(F+B)
B103a (
  • MK623
  • P-3
) 1 Livre
  • 4/15/1925
  • Sig 1
B103b face
B103b face
B103b (
  • MK629
  • P-8A
) 1 Livre
Arabic text; Jounieh Bay, Beirut Lebanon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 11/1/1930
  • 162 x 100mm
  • Sig 2
  • Blue “GRAND-LIBAN” on back

  • Watermark: Horse head

(F+B)
B103c face
B103c face
B103c (
  • MK634
  • P-12
) 1 Livre
  • 2/1/1935
  • Sig 2


B104a face
B104a face
B104a (
  • MK624
  • P-4
) 5 Livres
Arabic text; Krak des Chevaliers Castle in Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/15/1925
  • 182 x 110mm
  • Sig 1
  • Red “GRAND-LIBAN” on back

  • Watermark: Horse head
(F+B)
(F)
(B)
B104b (
  • MK630
  • P-9
) 5 Livres
  • 11/1/1930
  • Sig 2
  • Type of 1925


B105a face
B105a face
B105a (
  • MK635
  • P-12A
  • PCLB-35a
) 5 Livres
Arabic text; Azm Palace in Damascus, Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 2/1/1935
  • 182 x 105mm
  • Sig 2
  • Red “LIBAN” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Phoenician galley from a sarcophagus in the Beirut Museum
(F+B)
(F)
(B)
B106a (
  • MK625
  • P-5
) 10 Livres
  • 4/15/1925
  • Sig 1
B106b face
B106b face
B106b (
  • MK631
  • P-10
) 10 Livres
Arabic text; Temple of Mercury
  • Printer: BdF
  • 11/1/1930
  • 198 x 120mm
  • Sig 2
  • Red “GRAND-LIBAN” in a Cartouche on back
  • Only one example known

  • Watermark: Horse head

(F+B)
B107a (
  • MK626
  • P-6
) 25 Livres
Arabic text; Citadel of Aleppo, Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/15/1925
  • 220 x 123mm
  • Sig 1
  • Red “GRAND-LIBAN” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Ram's head
(F+B)
B107b (
  • MK632
  • P-11
) 25 Livres
  • 11/1/1930
  • Sig 2


B107c (
  • MK636
) 25 Livres
  • 2/1/1935
  • Sig 2


B108a face
B108a face
B108a (
  • MK627
  • P-7
  • PCLB-27a
) 50 Livres
Arabic text; Badawi mosque, fish pond, and gardens in North Tripoli
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/15/1925
  • 228 x 125mm
  • Sig 1
  • Blue “GRAND-LIBAN” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Ram's head
(F+B)
B109a face
B109a face
B109a (
  • MK628
  • P-8
) 100 Livres
Arabic text; Mosque in Damascus, Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/15/1925
  • 237 x 134mm
  • Sig 1
  • Red “GRAND-LIBAN” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Ram's head
(F+B)

1939 Provisional Issues

With horizontal black “LIBAN” 1939 overprint on front

B111 (
  • MK650
  • P-A13
) 1 Livre
Arabic text; Jounieh Bay in Beirut, Lebanon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 2/1/1935
  • 162 x 110mm
  • Sig 1
  • Blue “GRAND-LIBAN” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Horse head

(F+B)
(F)
(B)
B111.5a 5 Livres
Arabic text; Krak des Chevaliers Castle in Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/15/1925
  • 182 x 110mm
  • Sig 1
  • Red “GRAND-LIBAN” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Horse head

(F+B)
(F)
(B)
B112a (
  • P-13
) 5 Livres
Multicolor Design; Azam Palace
  • Printer: BdF
  • 2/1/1935
  • 180 x 105mm
  • Sig 2
  • Red “SYRIE” in a Cartouche on back

(F)
(B)
B113 (
  • MK651
  • P-13A
) 5 Livres
Multicolor Design; Azam Palace
  • Printer: BdF
  • 2/1/1935
  • 180 x 105mm
  • Sig 2
  • Red “LIBAN” in a Cartouche on back

(F)
(B)
B114 (
  • MK658
) 10 Livres
Multicolor Design; Temple of Venus at Baalbeck, Lebanon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 11/1/1930
  • 198 x 120mm
  • Sig 2
  • Red “SYRIE” in a Cartouche on back

(F+B)
B115a (
  • MK652
  • P-13B
) 10 Livres
Multicolor Design; Temple of Venus at Baalbeck, Lebanon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 11/1/1930
  • 198 x 120mm
  • Sig 2
  • Red “GRAND-LIBAN” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Horse head

(F+B)
B116a face
B116a face
B116a (
  • MK654
  • P-13C
) 25 Livres
Arabic text; Citadel of Aleppo, Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 2/1/1935
  • 220 x 123mm
  • Sig 2
  • Red “GRAND-LIBAN” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Ram's head

(F+B)
B117a face
B117a face
B117a (
  • P-13D
) 50 Livres
Multicolor Design; Temple of Venus at Baalbeck, Lebanon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1/1/1938
  • 228 x 125mm
  • Sig 2
  • Blue “SYRIE” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Ram's head

(F+B)
B117.5a 100 Livres
Arabic text; Mosque in Damascus, Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/15/1925
  • 237 x 134mm
  • Sig 1
  • Red “GRAND-LIBAN” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Ram's head

(F+B)

Banque de Syrie et du Liban

1939 First Issue

Face text in Arabic and back text in French

B201a face
B201a face
B201a (
  • MK644
  • P-15
) 1 Livre
Multicolor Floral Design, Two Eagles; Cedar Tree and Antelopes
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/1/1939
  • 158 x 96mm
  • Sig 1
  • Red “LIBAN” printed on back

  • Watermark: Stylized eagle
(F+B)
B202a (
  • MK645
  • P-16
) 5 Livres
Multicolor Floral Design; Cedar Tree and Antelopes
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/1/1939
  • 180 x 105mm
  • Sig 1
  • Red “LIBAN” printed on back

  • Watermark: Stylized eagle
(F+B)
(F)
(B)
B203a face
B203a face
B203a (
  • MK646
  • P-17
) 10 Livres
Multicolor Floral Design; Fountain and trees in Beiteddine Palace courtyard in Beiteddine, Lebanon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/1/1939
  • 198 x 100mm
  • Sig 1
  • Red “LIBAN” printed twice on back

  • Watermark: Lion Heads
(F+B)
(F)
(B)
B204a (
  • MK647
  • P-18
) 25 Livres
Ancient arches from Great Mosque of Baalbek; Head of lion from frieze on Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/1/1939
  • 194 x 116mm
  • Sig 1
  • Blue “LIBAN” printed twice on back

  • Watermark: Horse head
(F+B)
(F)
(B)
B205a (
  • MK648
  • P-19
) 50 Livres
Trees and buildings in Beiteddine Palace in Beiteddine, Lebanon; Corinthian columns of the 2nd century Roman Temple of Bacchus in Baalbek, Lebanon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/1/1939
  • 215 x 126mm
  • Sig 1
  • Blue “LIBAN” on back

  • Watermark: Bull Head
(F+B)
(F)
(B)
B206a face
B206a face
B206a (
  • MK649
  • P-21
) 250 Livres
Baptistry of Saint John-Marc Cathedral in Byblos; Sea Castle in Sidon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/1/1939
  • 234 x 127mm
  • Sig 1
  • Blue “LIBAN” twice on back

  • Watermark: Lion Head
(F+B)
(F)
(B)

1939 Second Issue

Similar to 1939 issues, but denominated in Livres Libanaise

B207a (
  • P-22
) 10 Livres Libanaise
Multicolor Floral Design; Fountain and trees in Beiteddine Palace courtyard in Beiteddine, Lebanon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 9/1/1939
  • 198 x 100mm
  • Red “LIBAN” printed twice on back

  • Watermark: Lion Heads

(F+B)
(F)
(B)
B208a (
  • MK656
  • P-23
) 25 Livres Libanaise
Ancient arches from Great Mosque of Baalbek; Head of lion from frieze on Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek
  • Printer: BdF
  • 9/1/1939
  • 194 x 116mm
  • Blue “LIBAN” twice on back

  • Watermark: Horse head

(F+B)
(F)
(B)
B209a (
  • MK657
  • P-24
) 50 Livres Libanaise
Trees and buildings in Beiteddine Palace in Beiteddine, Lebanon; Corinthian columns of the 2nd century Roman Temple of Bacchus in Baalbek, Lebanon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 9/1/1939
  • 215 x 126mm
  • Blue “LIBAN” on back

  • Watermark: Bull Head

(F+B)
(F)
(B)

1945-1950 Issues

Similar to 1939 issues, but face text in French and back text in Arabic

B218a face
B218a face
B218a (
  • MK676
  • P-48a
) 1 Livre Libanaise Multicolor Floral Design, Two Eagles
Cedar Tree and Antelopes
  • Printer: BdF
  • 12/1/1945
  • 158 x 96mm
  • Sig 3

  • Watermark: Stylized eagle

(F+B)
B218b (
  • MK682
  • P-48a
) 1 Livre Libanaise Multicolor Floral Design, Two Eagles
  • 8/1/1950


B219a (
  • MK677
  • P-49a
) 5 Livres Libanaise
Multicolor Floral Design; Cedar Tree and Antelopes
  • Printer: BdF
  • 12/1/1945
  • 180 x 105mm
  • Sig 3

  • Watermark: Stylized eagle

(F+B)
(F)
(B)
B219b (
  • MK683
  • P-49a
) 5 Livres Libanaise
  • 8/1/1950


B220a (
  • MK678
  • P-50a
) 10 Livres Libanaises
Multicolor Floral Design; Fountain and trees in Beiteddine Palace courtyard in Beiteddine, Lebanon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 12/1/1945
  • 198 x 100mm
  • Sig 3

  • Watermark: Lion Heads

(F+B)
(F)
(B)
B220b (
  • MK684
  • P-50a
) 10 Livres Libanaises
  • 8/1/1950


B221a (
  • MK679
  • P-51a
  • PCLB-69a-b
) 25 Livres Libanaise
  • 12/1/1945
  • Sig 3


B221b face
B221b face
B221b (
  • MK685
  • P-51a
) 25 Livres Libanaise
Ancient arches from Great Mosque of Baalbek; Head of lion from frieze on Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek
  • Printer: BdF
  • 8/1/1950
  • 194 x 116mm
  • Sig 3

  • Watermark: Horse head

(F+B)
(F)
(B)
B222a (
  • MK680
  • P-52a
) 50 Livres Libanaise
Trees and buildings in Beiteddine Palace in Beiteddine, Lebanon; Corinthian columns of the 2nd century Roman Temple of Bacchus in Baalbek, Lebanon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 12/1/1945
  • 215 x 126mm
  • Sig 3

  • Watermark: Bull Head

(F+B)
(F)
(B)
B222b (
  • MK686
  • P-52a
) 50 Livres Libanaise
  • 8/1/1950


B223a face
B223a face
B223a (
  • MK681
  • P-53
  • PCLB-71a
) 100 Livres Libanaise
Ornate tapestry of birds, camels, flowers, jewels; Snow-capped mountain and cedar tree in Bsharri region
  • Printer: BdF
  • 12/1/1945
  • 217 x 116mm
  • Sig 3

  • Watermark: Bull Head
(F+B)
(F)
(B)

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