Look: Did you know there was once a Dh1 banknote? Here's what it looked like
The first one-dirham coin began circulating on May 19, 1973. It was issued 534 days after the birth of the UAE, and we’re today commemorating its 52nd anniversary release.
Dirham is derived from the Greek word drachma, meaning ‘handful’. The term ‘dirham’ has also persisted through the Ottoman Empire after centuries during which trade and currency made use of it. These days, I suppose the UAE dirham could compete with your smartphone as the one thing nearly everyone has at all times within reach of their hand - be it a pocket or purse. Whether for paying parking fees or purchasing a cup of chai, the Dh1 coin has become integrated into our daily routines.
But did you know there was once a Dh1 banknote? The banknote was issued immediately after the first Dh1 coin was released.
The Dh1 notes display UAE landmarks and symbols like camels, pearls, oil drilling structures, palm trees, and boats sailing in waters in the shape of the UAE's silhouette.
Today, palm trees, camels, pearls and a boat sailing in waters in the shape of the UAE's silhouette are several of the forgotten features aids in capturing the public's attention, which makes it eye-catching in auctions and museums, turning it into a collector's item.
During the same time, one particular characteristic of the Dh1 coin is the fact that it has not changed its reverse side since it was introduced in 1973. The dallah represents Arabian identity and Gulf hospitality; it also serves as a universal reminder that everybody is welcome in the United Arab Emirates.
The first Dh1 coins “were produced at the Royal Mint, UK and the designs were the work of Geoffrey Colley an English artist engraver and sculptor who created more than a hundred and fifty coins for the UAE, Nigeria, Bahrain, Iceland and Iraq.”
In 1981, UAE released its first commemorative coin, 5 dirham piece to honor 15 centuries of the Hijri (Islamic) Calendar. The reverse side has a falcon, the UAE's national bird. This specific coin is notable as it remains the largest and heaviest and only circulated in this country.
As the dirham turns 52, celebrates the unified form that represents the seven emirates. The 1973-born banknotes were introduced with 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 denominations which initially displayed an Arabian horse watermark that was later changed to a falcon, the national bird of the UAE.
The initial issues of banknotes were illustrated with the landmarks that represented each Emirate individually and included the name of a Bank of the Emirates. For instance, Dh1 was decorated with the Clock Tower and Police Fort of Sharjah while the Dh5 note depicted Fujairah's Old Fort along with it.
The Dh10 note showed an aerial view of Umm Al Quwain, while the latter’s palace appeared on mount Dh50 note of Ajman. The remains Ras Al Khaimah was $100’s imprinted picture for Al Rams. The Al cukai Dubai and Abu’ai also crafted their representation with the Oman borders. Dh1000 was issued in 1976 containing Al Jahili Fort of Abu Dhabi and an old fort of Dubai.
Before Dirham was the common currency within the UAE, it was known as Gulf Rupee. Another point of interest that one might not come across is the Gulf Rupee used to be the currency of choice before UAE Dirham came into existence.
Before the UAE Dirham was adopted, the region underwent multiple phases of using currencies such as the Indian Rupee, Gulf Rupee, Qatari Riyal, Dubai Riyal, and Bahraini Dinar in Abu Dhabi.
The Dirham has not existed for long, and so there are many currencies that preceded it, for example, the currencies of the Trucial States.
In 1957, some notes were issued in India called ‘external rupees’ and Gulf Rupees. These were printed for use in the Gulf. They were also accepted in other GCC nations such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.
Gulf Rupees were only valid from 1957 to 1966. In 1966, India devalued its currency, at which point oil was found in the Trucial States. The currency for the Trucial States between 1966 and 1973 was Qatar-Dubai Riyal.
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