Description

The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is a renowned masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, often described as "the best known, most visited, most written about, sung about, and parodied work of art in the world." Its notable features include the subject's mysterious expression, monumental composition, subtle modeling of forms, and atmospheric illusionism.

Traditionally thought to portray Lisa del Giocondo, an Italian noblewoman, the painting is executed in oil on a Lombardy poplar panel. While it was never given to the Giocondo family, it was acquired by King Francis I of France after Leonardo's death in 1519 and is now owned by the French Republic. Displayed at the Louvre in Paris since 1797, its fame skyrocketed after being stolen in 1911 by Vincenzo Peruggia, who claimed it should belong to Italy. The subsequent theft and recovery in 1914 generated significant publicity, inspiring cultural depictions like operas, films, and songs.

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

Depicts the coat of arms of the Yemen Arab Republic (1974–1990) surrounded by denomination in Arabic above, English below, date in Hijri and Gregorian calendar years in both sides encircled by country name in Arabic and English. Metal purity 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
٥٠
ريالاً
1975 ١٣٩٥
[900] 50 [ni]
RIALS
YEMEN ARAB REPUBLIC

Reverse

Depicts the Mona Lisa encircled by Islamic ornament with the name of Leonardo above and the Mona Lisa below in Arabic.

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (1452–1519) was a prominent Italian polymath of the High Renaissance, renowned for his expertise as a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. While initially acclaimed for his prowess in painting, he gained equal renown for his extensive notebooks, which contained drawings and writings on a diverse array of subjects, ranging from anatomy and astronomy to botany, cartography, painting, and paleontology. Regarded as a quintessential Renaissance humanist, Leonardo is widely celebrated as a genius whose body of work has profoundly influenced subsequent generations of artists, rivaling even that of his esteemed contemporary Michelangelo.

ليوناردو
الموناليزا

Edge -
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Gold
Fineness 0.900
Weight 9.1 g
Diameter 25 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Alt # KM# MS2, KM# PS6

Related coins

Mona Lisa

Silver, 18 g, ⌀ 38 mm