Syria

Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon to the southwest, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest. Its capital and largest city is Damascus. Syria was under French control from 1920 to 1946.
The French-printed notes issued in Syria are largely the same as those issued in Lebanon. All are rare.

Banque de Syrie et du Grand-Liban

1925-1935 Issues

B201a (
  • MK706
  • P-21
) 25 Piastres
Arabic text; Waterwheel of Hama on the Orontes River, Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/15/1925
  • Blue “SYRIE” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Stylized wheat and leaves

(F+B)
B202a (
  • MK707b
  • P-23
) 50 Piastres
Arabic text; View of Village and Mosque
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/15/1925
  • With blue “SYRIE” overprint

  • Watermark: Stylized wheat and leaves

(F+B)
B203a (
  • MK708
  • P-24
) 1 Livre
Arabic text; Jounieh Bay, Beirut Lebanon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/15/1925
  • Blue “SYRIE” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Horse head

(F+B)
B203c (
  • MK718
  • P-34
) 1 Livre
  • 2/1/1935
B203b (
  • MK714
  • P-29A
) 1 Livre
  • 11/1/1930
B204a (
  • MK709
  • P-25
) 5 Livres
Arabic text; Krak des Chevaliers Castle in Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/15/1925
  • Blue “SYRIE” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Horse head

(F+B)
(F)
(B)
B204b (
  • MK715
  • P-30
) 5 Livres
  • 11/1/1930
B205a (
  • MK719
  • P-36
) 5 Livres
Multicolor Design; Azam Palace
  • Printer: BdF
  • 2/1/1935
  • Red “SYRIE” printed in Cartouche

(F)
(B)
B206a (
  • MK710
  • P-26
) 10 Livres
Arabic text; Temple of Mercury
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/15/1925
  • Red “SYRIE” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Horse head

(F+B)
B206b (
  • MK716
  • P-31
) 10 Livres
  • 11/1/1930
B207a (
  • MK711
  • P-27
) 25 Livres
Arabic text; Citadel of Aleppo, Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/15/1925
  • Red “SYRIE” printed in Cartouche

  • Watermark: Ram's head

(F+B)
B207b (
  • P-32
) 25 Livres
  • 11/1/1930
B208a (
  • MK712
  • P-28
) 50 Livres
Arabic text; Badawi mosque, fish pond, and gardens in North Tripoli
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/15/1925
  • Sig 1
  • Blue “SYRIE” printed in Cartouche

  • Watermark: Ram's head

(F+B)
B208b (
  • MK723
  • P-39
) 50 Livres
  • 1/1/1938
  • Sig 2
  • Unconfirmed
B209a (
  • MK713
  • P-29
) 100 Livres
Arabic text; Mosque in Damascus, Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/15/1925
  • Red “SYRIE” printed in Cartouche

  • Watermark: Ram's head

(F+B)
B210a (
  • MK717
  • P-33
) 100 Livres
Arabic text; Mosque in Damascus, Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 11/1/1930
  • Blue “SYRIE” printed in Cartouche

  • Watermark: Ram's head

(F+B)

1939 Provisional Issues

With horizontal black “SYRIE” 1939 overprint on front

B212a (
  • MK727
  • P-39A
) 1 Livre
Arabic text; Jounieh Bay, Beirut Lebanon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/15/1925

  • Watermark: Horse head

(F+B)
B213a (
  • MK728
  • P-39B
) 5 Livres
Multicolor Design; Azam Palace
  • Printer: BdF
  • 2/1/1935
  • Red “SYRIE” printed in Cartouche

(F)
(B)
B214a (
  • MK724
  • P-39C
) 10 Livres
Arabic text; Temple of Mercury
  • Printer: BdF
  • 11/1/1930
  • Red “SYRIE” printed in Cartouche

  • Watermark: Horse head

(F+B)
B214.5a (
  • MK729
) 25 Livres
Arabic text; Citadel of Aleppo, Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 2/1/1935
  • Red “GRAND-LIBAN” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Ram's head

(F+B)
B215a (
  • MK730
) 50 Livres
Multicolor Design; Temple of Venus at Baalbeck, Lebanon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1/4/1939
  • Blue “SYRIE” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Ram's head

(F+B)
B216a (
  • MK726
  • P-39D
) 100 Livres
Arabic text; Mosque in Damascus, Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 11/1/1930
  • Blue “SYRIE” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Ram's head

(F+B)

Banque de Syrie et du Liban

1947-1949 Issues

Similar to preceding issues, but denominated in Livres Syrienne and text on back in Arabic

B309a (
  • MK753
  • P-57
) 1 Livre Syrienne
Arabic text; Jounieh Bay, Beirut Lebanon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/1/1947

  • Watermark: Horse head

(F+B)
B309b (
  • MK759
  • P-63
) 1 Livre Syrienne
  • 7/1/1949


B310a (
  • MK758
  • P-62
) 5 Livres Syrienne
Multicolor Design; Azam Palace
  • Printer: BdF
  • 12/15/1948

(F)
(B)
B311a (
  • MK754
  • P-58
) 10 Livres Syrienne
Multicolor Design; Temple of Venus at Baalbeck, Lebanon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/1/1947
  • Red “SYRIE” printed in Cartouche

  • Watermark: Horse head

(F+B)
B311b (
  • MK760
  • P-64
) 10 Livres Syrienne
  • 7/1/1949


B312a (
  • MK764
  • P-59
) 25 Livres Syrienne
Arabic text; Citadel of Aleppo, Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/1/1947
  • Red “SYRIE” printed in Cartouche

  • Watermark: Ram's head

(F+B)
B312b (
  • P-65
) 25 Livres Syrienne
  • 7/1/1949

B313a (
  • MK765
  • P-60
) 50 Livres Syrienne
Arabic text; Badawi mosque, fish pond, and gardens in North Tripoli
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/1/1947
  • Blue “SYRIE” printed in Cartouche

  • Watermark: Ram's head

(F+B)
B313b (
  • P-66
) 50 Livres Syrienne
  • 7/1/1949

B314a (
  • MK766
  • P-61
) 100 Livres Syrienne
Arabic text; Mosque in Damascus, Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/1/1947
  • Blue “SYRIE” in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Ram's head

(F+B)
B314a (
  • P-67
) 100 Livres Syrienne
  • 7/1/1949

1950 Regular Issues

B315a (
  • P-70
) 25 Livres Syrienne
Arabic text; Citadel of Aleppo, Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 8/15/1950
  • Red “SYRIE” printed in Cartouche
  • Unconfirmed

  • Watermark: Ram's head

(F+B)
B316a (
  • P-71
) 50 Livres Syrienne
Arabic text; Badawi mosque, fish pond, and gardens in North Tripoli
  • Printer: BdF
  • 8/15/1950
  • Blue “SYRIE” printed in Cartouche
  • Unconfirmed

  • Watermark: Ram's head

(F+B)
B317a (
  • P-72
) 100 Livres Syrienne
Arabic text; Mosque in Damascus, Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 8/15/1950
  • Blue “SYRIE” in a Cartouche on back
  • Unconfirmed

  • Watermark: Ram's head

(F+B)

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