Qatar 10 dirham 1972

The coin's story

This bronze 10 dirhams coin is dated 1393 of the Hijra (1973), the first year of Qatar's own coinage, under Emir Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, in power from 1972 to 1995. Until then, Qatar had shared with Dubai the Qatar and Dubai riyal, created in 1966, after Dubai joined the United Arab Emirates, Qatar issued its own currency from 19 May 1973, the Qatari riyal, divided into 100 dirhams. It was struck with this single date only. The obverse shows the country's former emblem, a dhow sailing near an island planted with palm trees. The coins were designed by Norman Sillman and struck by the British Royal Mint at Llantrisant.