Obverse. Photo © currencypalace
  • 1 Qirsh 1991, Egypt
  • 1 Qirsh 1991, Egypt
Description

This essay discusses a non-commemorative one Piastre coin from 1991, which remained unissued and serves as a prelude to discontinuing this denomination due to its significantly low purchasing power.

Obverse

Depicts three Great Pyramids of Giza - the Great Pyramid of Khufu (c. 2580–2560 BC), the Pyramid of Khafre (c. 2570 BC) and the Pyramid of Menkaure (c. 2510 BC) located on the Giza Plateau.

The Giza pyramid complex is an archaeological site on the Giza Plateau, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. This complex of ancient monuments includes the three pyramid complexes known as the Great Pyramids, the massive sculpture known as the Great Sphinx, several cemeteries, a workers' village and an industrial complex. It is located in the Libyan Desert, approximately 9 km (5 mi) west of the Nile river at the old town of Giza, and about 13 km (8 mi) southwest of Cairo city centre.

The pyramids, which have historically loomed large as emblems of ancient Egypt in the Western imagination, were popularised in Hellenistic times, when the Great Pyramid was listed by Antipater of Sidon as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is by far the oldest of the ancient Wonders and the only one still in existence.

Reverse

Stylized state name (Arab Republic of Egypt), denomination and year of issue in Gregorian and Hijri calendar years (all in Arabic).

١٤١٢-١٩٩١
١ قرش
جمهورية مصر العربية

Edge

1 Qirsh (Piastre)

Trial Strike
KM#
Characteristics
Type Trial strike
Material Aluminium Bronze
Weight 2 g
Diameter 18 mm
Thickness 1.25 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Cairo Mint

Related coins

Aluminium Bronze, 2 g, ⌀ 18 mm

Aluminium Bronze, 4.9 g, ⌀ 23 mm

Aluminium Bronze, 4.9 g, ⌀ 23 mm