Obverse. Photo © Coinsberg.com
  • 25 Livres 2015, Lebanon, 70th Anniversary of the Middle East Airlines
  • 25 Livres 2015, Lebanon, 70th Anniversary of the Middle East Airlines
Description

Middle East Airlines – Air Liban S.A.L. (Arabic: طيران الشرق الأوسط ـ الخطوط الجوية اللبنانية,) more commonly known as Middle East Airlines (MEA) (Arabic: طيران الشرق الأوسط), is the flag carrier of Lebanon was founded on 31 May 1945 by Saeb Salam and Fawzi EL-Hoss with operational and technical support from BOAC. Operations started on 1 January 1946 using three de Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapides on flights between Beirut and Nicosia, followed by flights to Iraq, Egypt, and Syria. Two Douglas DC-3s were acquired in mid-1946. Pan American World Airways acquired a stake and management contract in September 1949, with its head office in Beirut, near Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport. It operates scheduled international flights to Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa from its base at Rafic Hariri International Airport.

Obverse

Value over a cedar tree in golden colour surrounded by "Bank of Lebanon" in French above, year of issue in Arab digits below inside Arabic star design with golden board and coloured gem in each corner surrounded by floral design.

The Lebanon cedar is the national emblem of Lebanon. It grows in Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, northwest Jordan, western Syria, and south-central Turkey.

BANQUE DU LIBAN
٢٥
ليرة
25
2015 LIVRES ٢٠١٥

Reverse

70 years with Cedar tree in zero above 3 coloured lines (colour of airline logo) and logo of Middle East Airlines.

The airline’s logo depicts the cedar tree (which also adorns the country’s national currency, coat of arms, and flag) evergreen coniferous tree in detail, with a powerful trunk and thick foliage. However, the entire tree is coloured in one shade of dark green, making it look unreal. The same shade is used for the letter “E” in the abbreviation “MEA.” The colour palette is completed by a red “M” and a blue “A.” The thin and elongated serifs of the letters harmonize with the horizontal base of the wood.

70 years
MEA

Edge

Metal (silver) and fineness

Ag 925

25 Livres

70th Anniversary of the Middle East Airlines

KM#
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.925
Weight 155.5 g
Diameter 60 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Coin

Related coins

Nickel Plated Steel, 2.82 g, ⌀ 20.5 mm