Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)
  • 5 Pounds 1979, KM# 496, Egypt, 1400th Anniversary of the Islamic Calendar (Hijra)
  • 5 Pounds 1979, KM# 496, Egypt, 1400th Anniversary of the Islamic Calendar (Hijra)
Description

The Hijri calendar also known as the Lunar Hijri calendar and (in English) as the Islamic, Muslim or Arabic calendar, is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to determine the proper days of Islamic holidays and rituals, such as the annual period of fasting and the proper time for the Hajj. In almost all countries where the predominant religion is Islam, the civil calendar is the Gregorian calendar, with Syriac month-names used in the Levant and Mesopotamia (Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine) but the religious calendar is the Hijri one.

This calendar enumerates the Hijri era, whose epoch was established as the Islamic New Year in 622 CE. During that year, Muhammad and his followers migrated from Mecca to Medina and established the first Muslim community (ummah), an event commemorated as the Hijrah. In the West, dates in this era are usually denoted AH (Latin: Anno Hegirae, "in the year of the Hijrah"). In Muslim countries, it is also sometimes denoted as H from its Arabic form (سَنَة هِجْرِيَّة, abbreviated ھ). In English, years prior to the Hijra are denoted as BH ("Before the Hijra").

Obverse

Depicts two pigeons and eggs in the front of a spider web as the symbol of Hijra. Inscription "1400th Anniversary of the Hijra" above and a verse "When they were both in the cave, when he said to his companion, Do not be sad, God is with us" below.

When Prophet Muhammad and Abu Bakr left the city and took shelter in a cave atop the Thawr mountain south of Mecca a miracle happened. A spider spun a web over the entrance of the cave in which they hid. The two doves flew down between the spider and the tree, made a nest and laid eggs. Because of that, their persecutors thought the cave must be empty.

Designer's mark (Shawky) on the right

ذكرى مرور اربعة عشر قرنا على الهجرة النبوية الشريفة
شوقي
إذ هما في الغار إذ يقول لصاحبه لا تحزن إن الله معنا

Reverse

Denomination divides dates, the country name "Arab Republic of Egypt" above.

جمهورية مصر العربية
خمسة جنيهات
١٤٠٠ ١٩٧٩

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Gold
Fineness 0.875
Weight 26 g
Diameter 33 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Cairo Mint

Related coins

1400th Anniversary of the Islamic Calendar (Hijra)

Aluminium Bronze, 5 g, ⌀ 24 mm