Description

The Cairo Opera House, part of Cairo's National Cultural Centre, is the main performing arts venue in the Egyptian capital.

The opera house was inaugurated on 10 October 1988. The funds for the complex were a gift from the nation of Japan to Egypt as a result of President Hosni Mubarak's visit to Japan in April 1983. Construction began in May 1985 and lasted for three years.

In October 1988, President Mubarak and Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, the younger brother of the Japanese Emperor, inaugurated the National Cultural Centre Cairo Opera House. It was the first time for Japan to stage a Kabuki show, a traditional popular drama with singing and dancing, in Africa or the Arab World.

Obverse

Depicts the building of Cairo Opera House surrounded by the inscriptions "Educational Cultural Center" and "Cairo Opera House".

المركز الثقافي التعليمي
دار الأوبرا المصرية

Reverse

Denomination in mirrored stylized flowers, dates (Hegira and Gregorian) below, calligraphic arted state name "Arab Republic of Egypt" in the centre, the inscription "The Ministry of Culture opening the opera" above.

وزارة الثقافة افتتاح الأوبرا
خمسة جنيهات
جمهورية مصر العربية
١٤٠٩ ١٩٨٨

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

Inauguration of Cairo Opera House

Cupronickel, 6 g, ⌀ 27 mm

Inauguration of Cairo Opera House

Gold, 8 g, ⌀ 24 mm

Inauguration of Cairo Opera House

Silver, 17.5 g, ⌀ 37 mm