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50 Piastres
| Issuer | Banque de Syrie et du Grand-Liban |
|---|---|
| Year | 1925 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | بنك سوريا ولبنان الكبير خمسون غرشا CL. SERVEAU FEC. BORNET SC. |
| Reverse description | Printed in warm ochre, green, and red tones, the reverse carries a bold Moorish architectural arch vignette at left, through which a landscape with cedar trees is visible. The central field bears the French text 'GRAND-LIBAN' and 'CINQUANTE PIASTRES' with the redemption clause in smaller lettering, and '50 PIASTRES' in large numerals below. The border consists of elaborate geometric and zigzag guilloche work in the Arabesque style, with engravers' credits 'CL. SERVEAU FEC.' and 'BORNET SC.' at the lower corners. |
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| Comments |
The Banque de Syrie et du Grand-Liban was itself a French concession instrument — a private institution operating under Mandate authority, with the Banque de France handling production. Clément Serveau was a prolific designer of French colonial note series in this period, and Paul Bornet's engraving work appears across multiple Banque de France commissions of the 1920s; the pairing was reliable, not exceptional.
What matters more is the political moment: 1925 was the year the Great Syrian Revolt erupted against French Mandate rule, and these notes entered circulation into that instability. The Syrian pound had only just been introduced the prior year, replacing the Egyptian pound as the official unit.