KUWAIT: Issuance of commemorative coins in Kuwait dates back to the 60s, some bearing pictures of the late Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and the national "boom," the locally-crafted wooden dhow that symbolizes the ancestors' trade and pearl-diving adventures. The first minted gold coin with the picture of the late Amir was issued in 1960, said Mohammad Abdul Hadi Jamal, a Kuwaiti researcher and writer, specialized in the national heritage.

Another one was issued in 1961. It was worth five dinars at the time and adorned with the term, "the Emirate of Kuwait," the word Kuwait in English on one side, and the date of the issuance on the other. The Central Bank of Kuwait (CB), founded on June 30, 1968, issued, on the 15th anniversary of the National Day, on Feb 25, 1976, a silver coin, worth two dinars, carrying the picture of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, whose era witnessed the independence of Kuwait, along with a photo of another eminent
Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. The other side of the silver coin was engraved with a drawing depicting the gate of the old fence of Kuwait City, a sail ship and drilling at an oil well.

The CB had also issued commemorative coins on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Islamic Calendar (1987), with identical ornamentation, though different in size. The coin was decorated with sketches of Al-Aqsa Mosque on one side, and the Holy Shrine in Makkah and the Prophet Mosque in Medina on the other. Jamal added that on the occasion of the country's 20th anniversary of the National Day, the CB made two commemorative coins, one silver and the other gold. One bore the drawing of a fishing net,
a ship steering wheel, tower of a plant, an oil drilling machine and the tourist towers.

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the National Day that fell on Feb 25, a gold coin of the 50-dinar category was minted. It was decorated with the drawings of a falcon, traditional woven wool works, primitive tools for picking pearls, the Grand Mosque and the National Assembly. On the 25th anniversary of minting the first memorial coin, April 1986, a silver coin was produced carrying a drawing symbolizing the first Kuwaiti coin issuance in 1961. The other side bore a picture of the falcon, the boo
m, Al-Shuwaikh Intermediate School and a map of the Arabian Gulf.

When the Fifth Islamic Summit was held in Kuwait in 1987, authorities put out two memorial coins, one silver and the other gold. One side of the coin was decorated with the logo of the conference, the date of holding it, the Quranic verse, "Thee nation is a united nation," surrounded with the drawing of the crescent. The other part carried the term, "The Central Bank of Kuwait, " in Arabic and English, overshadowed with sketches of a boom. Jamal recalled that in 1987, the authorities put out two groups of
silver and gold coins, each comprising six pieces, ranging in value between one to 100 fils.

On the occasion of the liberation that fell on Feb 26, 1992, two coins were made, one silver and the other gold, bearing the Quranic verse, "If Allah supports you, you won't be conquered," the term, "From the Kuwaiti territories, we express gratitude to all those who shared the sentiments." The other section of the coin carried drawings of the liberation tower, the grand mosque, the new headquarters of the CB and the term, "Kuwait is free.

Going deeper into this narrative, the eminent Kuwaiti researcher said the monetary authorities released, on the second liberation occasion, a one-dinar plastic-made memorial, bearing the map and the slogan of the State of Kuwait, names of the states that had taken part in the liberation of the country, while the other side was adorned with images of the Kuwaiti desert and jubilant nationals celebrating the liberation.

Marking the silver jubilee for the founding of the CB, the authorities produced a book-size silver banknote depicting the occasion, headlined with the Quranic verse, "In the name of His Almighty, the Merciful and Compassionate," circled with traditional Islamic ornamentation. In the center were drawings of the old and new buildings of the central bank, the landmark towers and an old boom.

In December 1995, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the UN, the authorities put out a memorial coin bearing the logo of the international organization, two doves, the name and slogan of Kuwait. On the 35th National Day anniversary , two coins, one silver and the other gold, were produced. One was adorned with a picture of the new buildings of the Amiri Diwan, the Crown Prince Diwan, the date of the occasion and a picture Al-Seif Palace.

The 50th anniversary marking the shipment of oil, June 1996, was marked with the issuance of two identical coins, bearing drawings of the national flag, two oil tankers, the logo of Kuwait Oil Company. The other side of the two coins bore the pictures of oil drilling machines, oil tanks, and an oil refinery. Two similar coins of same precious metals were made for marking the fifth anniversary of liberation (February 1996), bearing Quranic verses and symbols in homage to souls of the martyrs and symbolizing
the plight of the prisoners.

Two others were put out on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the first oil shipment in June 1996, bearing drawings of the national slogan and oil operations. For the 30th anniversary of the founding of Kuwait University, November 1996, a silver coin was made, bearing drawings of the state slogan, the logo of the university, a Quranic verse and sections of the university building.

With the advent of the 21st century, the researcher said the CB printed two coins marking start of a new century. It also put out coins on the 40th anniversary of the National Day (Feb. 25, 2001), one showed a soldier carrying the flag of liberated Kuwait. Jamal said the 45th anniversary off the independence was marked with two coins bearing pictures of Jaber Al-Ahmad stadium. Two other coins marked the 2006 liberation day.

Source : Kuwait Times