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Orbis Collectibles

Saudi riyal coinage

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · partial

Period

1935 onwards

Saudi riyal coinage comprises the silver and later base-metal coins issued for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 1935 onward. The inaugural 1935 release in the Kingdom's name consisted of silver 1/4, 1/2, and 1 riyal coins, which were minted nearly 50 percent lighter than previous regional issues to match the silver content of the Indian rupee. Fractional cupro-nickel coins denominated in qirsh followed beginning in 1937.

Subsequent monetary shifts transformed the coinage structure. The original system of 22 qirsh per riyal was adjusted to 20 qirsh in 1960 before the halala was introduced in 1963, beginning with a one-year bronze 1 halala issue. Later twentieth-century and twenty-first-century productions introduced cupro-nickel halala and riyal coins, followed by bimetallic 1 riyal pieces in 1999 and a 2016 family featuring both halala fractions and bimetallic 1 and 2 riyal denominations.

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

Following earlier issues under the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd, the first coins bearing the name of Saudi Arabia appeared in 1935. Early issues circulated alongside foreign trade coins in the Arabian Peninsula, retaining a system of qirsh inherited from earlier Ottoman-era exchange standards. In 1953, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency introduced Hajj Pilgrim Receipts, which gained widespread public acceptance and largely replaced bulky silver riyal coins in major financial transactions. Decimalization was completed in 1963 with the halala, prompting a transition away from silver into base-metal and modern bimetallic coinages.

Design

Note
Arabic inscriptions and crossed swords with palm emblem.

Identification

Note
Dates are given in the Hijri calendar and require conversion.
Recognition pointers (from background sources)
Look for Arabic inscriptions along with the crossed swords and palm emblem characteristic of Saudi state issues. Dates on the coinage are given in the Hijri calendar and require conversion to determine the Gregorian year. Cupro-nickel qirsh coins issued from 1937 may feature an Arabic numeral '65' countermark, stamped in 1946 (AH 1365).

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

  • Weights, finenesses and Hijri date ranges require transcription from a printed reference.
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