First Issue

​​​​​​Overview

Pursuant to the Saudi Arabian Monetary Law issued under Royal Decree No. (6) on 01 Rajab 1379H, Saudi Arabia introduced its first official issue of banknotes during the era of King Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. This inaugural issue comprised five denominations: 100 riyals, 50 riyals, ten riyals, five riyals, and one riyal. The banknotes were issued on 01/01/1381H, corresponding to 14/06/1961, and remained in circulation until they were withdrawn on 01/05/1391H, corresponding to 24/06/1971.​

First Issue  
 

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100 Riyals Note
  • Obverse:​
  • A rectangle showing the gate of Al-Nasiriya Palace in the middle. At the top appears the name of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency in Arabic, along with the number and date of the Royal Decree by virtue of which the note was issued. The left side of the note shows an image representing the Council of Ministers, accompanied by SAMA’s undertaking to pay the value of the note. On the right side of the note appears an image representing the Central Library of King Saud University, along with the watermark and the security thread. The bottom of the note shows the serial number and the signatures of the Minister of Finance and the Governor of SAMA.
  • Reverse:​
  • In the middle appears Saudi Arabia’s emblem inside a pointed arch, with the name of the King during whose reign the note was issued placed underneath it. To the right appears the value of the note in English. Each side of the note contains a minaret of the Prophet’s Mosque. The top of the note shows the name of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency in English.
100 Riyal Note Size and Color: (176mm x 86mm), Red
 
50 Riyals Note
  • Obverse:
  • A rectangle with a view of an oil refinery at the center. In the top frame is the name of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency in Arabic, accompanied by the number and date of the Royal Decree by virtue of which the note was issued. On the right side appear the watermark and the security thread. The left side of the note shows SAMA's undertaking to pay the value of the note. The bottom of the note shows the serial number, along with the signatures of the Minister of Finance and the Governor of SAMA.
  • Reverse:
  • A rectangle with Saudi Arabia’s emblem in the center. At the top appear the name of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency in English, and the name of the King during whose reign the note was issued underneath it. On the right side of the note appears the value of the note in English. Each side of the note shows a picture of a minaret.
The 50 Riyal Note Size and Color: (170mm x 78mm), Maroon
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Ten Riyals Note​
Obverse:
  • A rectangle at the center of which appears a view of Jeddah Port and two dhows. At the top appears the name of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency in Arabic, along with the number and date of the Royal Decree by virtue of which the note was issued. To the left appears SAMA’s undertaking to pay the value of the note. To the right are the watermark and the security thread. The serial number, signatures of the Minister of Finance and the Governor of SAMA, and the value of the note in Arabic are shown at the bottom of the note.
  • Reverse:
  • In the middle is Saudi Arabia’s emblem, with the name of the King during whose reign the note was issued underneath it. On the right side of the note is the value in English. In the top frame of the rectangle, the name of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency appears in English.

The 10 Riyal Note Size and Color: (165mm x 70mm), Green
 
Five Riyals Note
  • Obverse:
  • The design includes a view of the Al-Masmak Palace. At the top appear the name of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency in Arabic and the number and date of the Royal Decree by virtue of which the note was issued. Below the image is the value in Arabic words. To the right of the note are the watermark and the security thread. On the left side of the note appears SAMA’s undertaking to pay the value of the note, with the serial number and the signatures of the Minister of Finance and the Governor of SAMA at the bottom of the note.
  • Reverse:
  • A rectangle contains Saudi Arabia’s emblem in the middle. Under it is the name of the King during whose reign the note was issued. At the top ap​pears the name of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency in English. To the right side is the value of the note in English words.

The 5 Riyal Note Size and Color: (157 mm x 66 mm), Blue
 
One Riyal Note
  • ​Obverse:​
  • Contains a view of Jabal Al-Nour in Makkah in the center. At the top appears the name of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency in Arabic, along with the number and date of the Royal Decree by virtue of which the note was issued. To the right are the watermark and the security thread. To the left appears SAMA’s undertaking to pay the value of the note. At the bottom appear the serial number, the signatures of the Minister of Finance and the Governor of SAMA, and the value of the note in Arabic.
  • Reverse:
  • In the middle appears Saudi Arabia’s emblem, with the name of the King during whose reign the note was issued inscribed underneath it. At the top appears the name of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency in English. The value of the note in English words is also given to the right of the note.
One Riyal Denomination Size and Color: (128 mm x 62 mm), Maroon
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