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Orbis Collectibles

National Bank of Egypt banknotes

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · partial

Period

From 1899

National Bank of Egypt banknotes are paper currency issues released by the National Bank of Egypt beginning in 1899, denominated in Egyptian pounds and piastres with bilingual Arabic and English text. Introduced following the granting of note-issuing privileges to the bank in 1898, this series established paper currency denominated in pounds within the modern Egyptian monetary framework.

The initial 1899 release included denominations of 50 piastres (PT), £1, £5, £10, £50, and £100, representing the earliest paper issues to display the word "pounds" in English. The range of circulating denominations was subsequently expanded between 1916 and 1917 with the introduction of 25 piastres notes.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
2
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
0

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Founded in June 1898, the National Bank of Egypt obtained the privilege to issue banknotes, commencing releases in 1899. The institution obtained a privileged role as banker to the Egyptian government and functioned as a semi-official central bank, formally gaining central bank status by decree in 1951 and through the Banking Act of 1957. Alongside domestic circulation, Egyptian pound currency was used in Anglo-Egyptian Sudan between 1899 and 1956, Mandatory Palestine from 1918 to 1927, and Cyrenaica between 1942 and 1951. The bank's note-issuing role in this capacity concluded after the Egyptian government nationalized the institution in 1960 and established a separate central bank.

Identification

Recognition pointers (from background sources)
Look for issuing inscriptions naming the National Bank of Egypt. Verify the presence of bilingual text combining Arabic and English, including the word "pounds" written in English. Check for standard denominations of 25 PT, 50 PT, £1, £5, £10, £50, or £100.

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Research required
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
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Weight
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Mint or printer
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Mint or printer mark
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Catalogue reference
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Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.

Research required

  • Series list, signature varieties and printers require transcription from a standard catalogue
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