Obverse. Photo © Central Bank of the UAE
  • 50 Dirhams 2009, United Arab Emirates, Khalifa, 60th Anniversary of Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Accession to Rule in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah
  • 50 Dirhams 2009, United Arab Emirates, Khalifa, 60th Anniversary of Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Accession to Rule in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah
Description

Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi (c. 1918–1920 – 2010) was the ruler of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah from 1948 to 2010. Under his leadership, Ras Al Khaimah became the seventh Trucial State to join the United Arab Emirates on 10 February 1972. He assumed power on 17 July 1948, after overthrowing his paternal uncle and father-in-law, Sheikh Sultan bin Salim Al Qasimi, in a coup d'etat, subsequently exiling him to Sharjah. At the time of his death in 2010, Sheikh Saqr was the world's oldest reigning monarch at approximately 90 years old.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (1948–2022), the UAE's second president and ruler of Abu Dhabi from November 2004 to May 2022, was the eldest son of the UAE's first president, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He took on a significant role in the late 1990s due to his father's health issues and officially became Abu Dhabi's leader in 2004. His tenure saw cultural and academic growth, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways. Under his leadership, the UAE became a major economic power. Known for his pro-Western stance, he strengthened ties with the US and Israel.

Obverse

Depicts a portrait of Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi facing, wearing a traditional cloak and headpiece, denomination below portrait inscriptions in Arabic "His Highness Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi" above.

The traditional men's headwear in some Middle Eastern areas consists of three components: a knitted skull-cap known as the "keffiyeh," (also referred to as a ghutrah, shemagh, or ḥaṭṭah) a large cotton headscarf, typically plain white or with a red-and-white checkered pattern, called the "ghutra," and a black cord named the "agal," which secures the ghutra in place.

صاحب السمو الشيخ صقر بن محمَد القاسمي حاكم إمارة رأس الخَيمة
٥٠ درهماً

Reverse

Depicts the outer view of Dhayah Fort, inscription in Arabic "The 60th Anniversary of H.H. Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Accession to Rule in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah" above and dates of accession and year of issue.

Dhayah Fort, an 18th-century fortification in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, is the highest hilltop fort in the country. It was the site of a significant battle during the Persian Gulf campaign of 1819, where British troops captured the fort after a brief siege. The fall of Dhayah Fort led to the signing of the General Maritime Treaty of 1820, the first of several treaties between the British government and the rulers of the region, later known as the Trucial Coast.

الذكرى الستون على تولي مقاليد الحكم في إمارة رأس الخيمة
١٩٤٨ - ٢٠٠٩

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.925
Weight 40 g
Diameter 40 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal

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