Obverse. Photo © Katz Auction
  • 500 Rials 2004, KM# 30, Yemen, Arab Cultural Capital, Sana'a - 2004
  • 500 Rials 2004, KM# 30, Yemen, Arab Cultural Capital, Sana'a - 2004
Description

The Arab Capital of Culture initiative, spearheaded by the Arab League in collaboration with UNESCO's Cultural Capitals Program, aims to champion and honor Arab culture while nurturing collaboration within the region.

In 2004, Sana'a was designated as the Arab Capital of Culture. On February 15, the Europa Philharmonic performed a repertoire of symphonic compositions during an artistic evening held in the historic city of Sana'a, attended by a diverse audience comprising Yemeni, Arab, and European dignitaries, among them Wolfgang Tersee, President of the German Bundestag (Parliament).

Throughout the year 2004, a series of programs will unfold from January to December, featuring a plethora of events. These include 12 national seminars and 8 Arab seminars, as well as three Arab and international conventions, in which Arab intellectuals, artists, and authors will participate. Additionally, there will be five exhibitions showcasing poetry, stories, novels, plays, and folklore songs.

Concurrently with these cultural and artistic happenings, a poetry exhibition will convene, bringing together renowned poets from across the Arab world. Similarly, an exhibition spotlighting Arabic storytelling and another showcasing books will be featured, alongside a conference on Arabian sculptures.

Obverse

Value in the middle in Arabic and English surrounded by the inscriptions "Central Bank of Yemen" in two languages and dates in Western and Hijri on both sides.

البنك المركزي اليمنى
٥٠٠
١٤٢٥هـ ٢٠٠٤م
ريال
500 RIALS
CENTRAL BANK OF YEMEN

Reverse

Depicts an emblem of the event (a stylized city name Sana'a as a stained glass window with its name "Sana'a 2004" below) above the Gate of Yemen encircled by the inscription of the event in Arabic above and English below.

The Yemen Gate or Gate of Yemen (Arabic: باب اليمن) is the main gate of Sana's old fortified wall, on the southern extremity of the walled city. Its current appearance dates to the 17th century, having been designed by Sam the son of Noah. Today, it is the most ornate of the gates of Sana's Old City. Passengers travelling southward, en route to Ma'bar and Dhamar, would depart from this gate.

As one enters the gate, one quickly notices the Yemeni architecture, high towering houses made of baked bricks decorated and waterproofed with lime plaster and qadad, one of the characteristic features of Sana's Old City. Many of the houses make use of decorative windows, designed as fanlights fitted with stained glass, enclosed within muntins of gypsum plaster and lime-coated sash. Windows that are typical of the Old City of Sana'a are the alabaster qamariyyah, and the stained glass fanlight (‘aqd mulawwan). The Great Mosque of Sana'a is located about 300 yards from the Yemen Gate. The old city of Sana'a is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its unique architectural characteristics, most notably expressed in its multi-storey buildings decorated with geometric patterns.

The brass rings on the left and right columns at the entrance of the Yemen Gate were made by Jewish artisans during the period of the monarchy under the Imams.Opposite Bab al-Yaman to the north of the Old City is Bab es-Sha'ub.

صنعاء عاصمة الثقافة العربية ٢٠٠٤
صنعاء
SANA'A 2004
SANA'A 2004 THE ARAB CULTURAL CAPITAL

Edge

500 Rials

KM# 30 Schön# 169
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Nickel Brass
Weight 21.25 g
Diameter 35.2 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal

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