Yemen, North (Arab Republic) 20 Rials 1969

History

20 Rials 1969, KM# 9, Yemen, North (Arab Republic), Muhammad Mahmoud Al-Zubairi Memorial

Obverse. Photo © NumisBids

Description

Muhammad Mahmoud Al-Zubairi (1910–1965) was a Yemeni poet, politician, and revolutionary, widely regarded as one of Yemen's greatest poets of the twentieth century. Known as "Abu Al-Ahrar" (the father of freemen) and "the poet of Yemen," he left an indelible mark on Yemeni literature.

Born in 1910 in Sanaa, Al-Zubairi grew up as an orphan in a middle-class family. After receiving his early education in Sanaa, he pursued higher studies at Cairo University in 1939. Upon his return to Sanaa in 1941, he faced imprisonment by Imam Yahya for his critical views. Released a year later, he relocated to Taiz and then to Aden, where he founded the "Free Yemeni Party" in 1944.

Al-Zubairi played a significant role in Yemen's political landscape, notably during the Dustor or Constitutional Revolution in 1948. Despite being appointed Minister of Knowledge in the new government, he was forced to flee to Aden and later Pakistan after the restoration of the monarchy by Imam Yahya's son, Ahmad.

Returning to Yemen during the 26 September Revolution in 1962, Al-Zubairi served as Minister of Education and later as Deputy Prime Minister and a member of the Revolutionary Council. However, his political career was tragically cut short when he was assassinated on 1 April 1965 in Barat, northern Sana'a.

The Yemen Arab Republic (YAR), also known simply as North Yemen or Yemen (Sanaʽa), was a country from 1962 to 1990 in the northwestern part of what is now Yemen. Its capital was at Sanaʽa. It united with the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (commonly known as South Yemen) on May 22, 1990 to form the current Republic of Yemen.

Obverse	Animal (fish, bird, mammal etc.) Hawk Coat of arms Yemen Construction (building, bridge etc.) Dam Depicts the coat of arms of the Yemen Arab Republic (1974–1990) surrounded by country name in Arabic and English, denomination in Arabic and English with date in Gregorian calendar year below. The national emblem of Yemen depicts the Hawk of Quraish with a scroll between its claws. On the scroll is written the name of the country (Yemen Arab Republic) in Arabic. The chest of the eagle contains a shield that depicts a coffee plant and the Marib Dam, with seven blue wavy stripes below. The flagstaffs on the right and left of the eagle hold the flag of Yemen. The Hawk of Quraish is a symbol which is found on a number of emblems, coat of arms and flags of several states of the Arab world. The Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula, today especially those from the Persian Gulf coast, are traditionally falconry experts; falcons (and hawks) are seen as status symbols and one of the Arabs' favourite animals. Also the traditions and recorded history about the Quraysh and Muhammad claim a falcon had been used as clan symbol. Therefore, several variants of the Quraishi hawk were and are seen in the flags, coat of arms, seals and emblems of several Arab states until today. In that meaning, the Hawk of Quraish is a rival to the so-called Eagle of Saladin. الجمهورية العربية اليمنية الجمهورية العربية اليمنية 20 R ٢٠ ريالا 1969-١٩٦٩ YEMEN ARAB REPUBLIC
Reverse	Animal (fish, bird, mammal etc.) Camel Depicts a standing Bactrian camel. The Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), also known as the Mongolian camel, domestic Bactrian camel or two-humped camel, is a large even-toed ungulate native to the steppes of Central Asia. It has two humps on its back, in contrast to the single-humped dromedary.[a] Its population of 2 million exists mainly in the domesticated form. Their name comes from the ancient historical region of Bactria. Domesticated Bactrian camels have served as pack animals in inner Asia since ancient times. With its tolerance for cold, drought, and high altitudes, it enabled the travel of caravans on the Silk Road. Bactrian camels, whether domesticated or feral, are a separate species from the wild Bactrian camel, which is the only truly wild (as opposed to feral) species of camelid in the Old World.
Edge	Reeded (milled)