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

B202a (
  • P-23
) 50 Piastres
Arabic text; View of Village and Mosque
  • Printer: BdF
  • 4/15/1925
  • With SYRIE overprint

  • Watermark: Stylized wheat and leaves

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

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


  • Leclerc, L. DEL
    • (F)

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


  • Demarcq, J. FEC
  • Hourriez SC
    • (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

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

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
  • Blue SYRIE printed in Cartouche

  • Watermark: Ram's Head

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

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

  • Watermark: Ram Head

1925 Second Issue

B208b (
  • P-39
) 50 Livres
  • 1/1/1938

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

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


  • Demarcq, J. FEC
  • Hourriez SC
    • (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

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

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 Head

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

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

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


  • Demarcq, J. FEC
  • Hourriez SC
    • (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

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

B312a (
  • MK755
  • 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

B312b (
  • MK761
  • P-65
) 25 Livres Syrienne
  • 7/1/1949

B313a (
  • MK756
  • 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

B313b (
  • MK762
  • P-66
) 50 Livres Syrienne
  • 7/1/1949

B314a (
  • MK757
  • 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

B314a (
  • MK763
  • P-67
) 100 Livres Syrienne
  • 7/1/1949

1950 Regular Issues

B315a (
  • MK764
  • P-70
) 25 Livres Syrienne
Arabic text; Citadel of Aleppo, Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 8/15/1950
  • Red SYRIE printed in Cartouche

  • Watermark: Ram's Head
B316a (
  • MK765
  • 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

  • Watermark: Ram's Head

B317a (
  • MK766
  • P-72
) 100 Livres Syrienne
Arabic text; Mosque in Damascus, Syria
  • Printer: BdF
  • 8/15/1950
  • Blue SYRIE in a Cartouche on back

  • Watermark: Ram's Head

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