Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 10 Fils 1981, KM# 9, Yemen, South (People's Democratic Republic)
  • 10 Fils 1981, KM# 9, Yemen, South (People's Democratic Republic)
Description

South Yemen, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, also referred to as Democratic Yemen or Yemen (Aden) was a socialist country that existed from 1967 to 1990 as a state in the Middle East in the southern and eastern provinces of the present-day Republic of Yemen, including the island of Socotra.

South Yemen's origins can be traced to 1874 with the creation of the British Colony of Aden and the Aden Protectorate, which consisted of two-thirds of the present-day Yemen. However, Aden became a province within British India in 1937. After the collapse of Aden Protectorate, a state of emergency was declared in 1963, when the National Liberation Front (NLF) and the Front for the Liberation of Occupied South Yemen (FLOSY) rebelled against British rule.

Obverse

Depicts an outer view of Sira Fortress over the hill on Sira Island with its name and date below encircled by country name in Arabic and English.

Sira Fortress is a military installation situated in Aden, Yemen. Originally constructed in the 11th century, it remains in active use by the Yemeni military to this day. Positioned on Sira Island, a rugged and towering volcanic formation dominating the old harbor of Aden, the fortress is often referred to as a castle, though it primarily serves as a fortification. Despite its historical significance, limited archaeological studies have been conducted on the site, leaving much of its past shrouded in mystery. One theory suggests that construction began around 1173 under the supervision of Prince Othman Al-Zangabili Al-Takriti, a Turkish ruler of Aden. The fortress withstood numerous attacks, notably by the Portuguese and Turks in 1517. Despite changes in the city's commercial center and the silting of the ancient harbor, the British continued to maintain and expand the fortress following their arrival in 1839. Accessible via a 15-minute climb up steep stairs, the fortress is a popular tourist destination in Aden.

جمهورية اليمن الديمقراطية الشعبية
قلعة صيرة
1981
PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF YEMEN

Reverse

Denomination in a circle, legend "BANK OF YEMEN" in Arabic and English.

مصرف اليمن
١٠
فلوس
BANK OF YEMEN

Edge
Characteristics
Material Aluminium
Weight 2.2 g
Diameter 25.6 mm
Thickness -
Shape wavy (scallop, sun-shaped)
Notches 10
Alignment Medal

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