Egypt Banknotes: History, Notable Notes, and a Collecting Guide
The Egyptian pound, known in Arabic as the gineih, runs from a 19th-century khedivial decree through the bilingual notes of the National Bank of Egypt to today's mosque-and-monument designs. That long, layered history, paired with genuinely affordable prices, is what makes Egyptian paper money such a rewarding place to start collecting.
Last updated: July 2026
Egypt's currency is the Egyptian pound (ISO code EGP), known locally as the gineih and divided into 100 piastres. The pound was established by a monetary decree in 1834, and paper money followed when the National Bank of Egypt began issuing notes in 1899. Modern Egyptian notes carry a signature split design: an Islamic monument such as a mosque on one face and an ancient Egyptian scene on the other. Deep history and low entry prices, not speculation, are what make these notes so collectible.
What is the history of the Egyptian pound?
The Egyptian pound began as a coinage standard in 1834 and became a paper currency at the end of the 1800s. A monetary decree issued under Egypt's rulers in 1834 established the pound as the country's principal unit of account, subdividing it into 100 piastres (qirsh); the pound was later also reckoned in 1,000 milliemes. The name gineih comes from the British gold guinea, a reminder of how closely trade tied Egypt to Europe in that century. For the vocabulary a collector meets along the way, our banknote glossary defines the common terms.
The National Bank of Egypt (1898 to 1960)
Egypt's paper money begins with the National Bank of Egypt, founded in 1898 and granted the sole right to issue banknotes. Its first notes appeared in 1899, printed during the period of British occupation and typically bilingual, with Arabic on one side and English on the other. Over the following decades these issues carried the marks of a changing country, from the sultanate through the Kingdom of Egypt, including notes tied to the reigns of King Fuad and King Farouk. Early National Bank of Egypt notes are the foundational material of the field and the pieces most prized by advanced collectors.
The Central Bank of Egypt (1961 onward)
In 1961 the Central Bank of Egypt was founded and took over the issuing of the country's currency. This is the era most collectors handle today. Republic-era notes settled into the now-familiar convention of pairing Islamic architecture with pharaonic imagery, a design language that turns each denomination into a small tour of Egyptian civilization. The Central Bank of Egypt still issues the pound today.
A steady old currency, not a hyperinflation
Egypt floated its pound in November 2016 under a reform program backed by the International Monetary Fund, and the currency has weakened substantially against the dollar in the devaluations since. That said, Egypt has not experienced a true hyperinflation, so its notes belong to the history-and-design side of collecting rather than the extreme-collapse side.
Because the story here is longevity rather than a spectacular collapse, most Egyptian notes remain very affordable. That makes Egypt one of the friendliest countries for a new collector to build a genuinely historic set.
What are the most collectible Egyptian banknotes?
The most collectible Egyptian notes are the early National Bank of Egypt issues and the classic mosque-and-monument series that followed. The table below maps the main eras a collector will encounter. It stays general on purpose, so ask a source-first dealer for specific catalog references and current availability rather than trusting a fixed price list.
| Era / series | What it is | Why collectors want it |
|---|---|---|
| Early National Bank of Egypt (1899 onward) | The first Egyptian paper pounds and piastre notes, bilingual and issued under British occupation. | The foundational material of the field, and the most historically significant Egyptian notes. |
| Kingdom of Egypt (Fuad and Farouk reigns) | National Bank of Egypt notes from the monarchy, before the 1952 revolution. | Royal-era design and a vanished political chapter make these a favorite among theme collectors. |
| Early Central Bank of Egypt (1961 onward) | The first notes issued after the central bank took over currency in 1961. | The start of the modern republic-era pound and the bilingual, dual-face format. |
| Classic mosque and monument series | The familiar circulating denominations pairing a mosque with an ancient Egyptian scene. | Beautiful, inexpensive, and easy to assemble into a complete set of designs. |
| Polymer notes (early 2020s) | Egypt's first plastic banknotes, the 10 and 20 pound, a modern chapter for a very old currency. | A fresh material and a clear cutoff point that appeals to type collectors. |
The dual-face design is worth dwelling on, because it is the heart of Egypt's collecting appeal. On modern notes, one side shows an Islamic monument with Arabic text and Eastern Arabic numerals, while the other shows an ancient Egyptian subject with English text and Western numerals. The 100-pound note, for example, is widely known for pairing the Sultan Hassan Mosque with the Great Sphinx of Giza, and the 20-pound note for featuring the Mosque of Muhammad Ali on the Cairo Citadel. Assembling one of each denomination gives you a compact museum of Egyptian history in your hands.
How do I start collecting Egyptian banknotes?
Pick one thread and follow it. Because Egypt's history is so layered and its notes so affordable, the easiest way in is to choose a single story rather than trying to buy everything at once. Three approaches work well for beginners.
- Collect the design set. A run of the current mosque-and-monument denominations is inexpensive and striking, and it teaches you the whole visual language of Egyptian currency in one sitting.
- Collect by era. Start with a single National Bank of Egypt note for its history, then add a first Central Bank of Egypt issue to show the 1961 handover.
- Collect by grade. If you want top condition, look for Uncirculated (UNC) notes, the top of the ladder that runs UNC, AU, XF, VF, F, VG, G, or notes graded by PMG or PCGS on the 1 to 70 scale.
Whichever thread you pick, two habits protect your money: buy from a dealer that documents where its notes come from, and understand condition before you pay. Our guides on how to collect world banknotes and banknote grading cover the fundamentals.
Where can I buy Egyptian banknotes?
Buy from a source-first dealer that inspects and authenticates every note. Planet Banknote stocks Egyptian banknotes and ships each one with a free Certificate of Authenticity, rather than quoting a fixed market price that would go stale as inventory and grades change. You can browse current availability on our Egypt page.
The rules are the same for any world paper money. Confirm the note is genuine, understand its grade, and keep documentation. Every note Planet Banknote sells passes our Planet Banknote Verified inspection, so you are buying from a named, reachable business with recourse behind it.
Frequently asked questions
What currency does Egypt use?
Egypt uses the Egyptian pound, ISO code EGP, known locally as the gineih and divided into 100 piastres. The pound was established by a monetary decree in 1834, and its name comes from the British gold guinea. It is issued today by the Central Bank of Egypt.
When did Egypt first issue banknotes?
The National Bank of Egypt, founded in 1898, issued the country's first banknotes in 1899. It held the sole right to issue currency and printed bilingual notes in Arabic and English during the period of British occupation. These early National Bank of Egypt notes are the foundational material of Egyptian collecting.
Why do Egyptian banknotes show a mosque on one side and a temple on the other?
Modern Egyptian notes use a deliberate split design that celebrates both halves of the country's heritage. One face shows an Islamic monument such as a mosque, with Arabic text, while the other shows an ancient Egyptian subject, with English text. The 100-pound note, for instance, is well known for pairing the Sultan Hassan Mosque with the Great Sphinx of Giza.
Are Egyptian banknotes expensive to collect?
Most Egyptian banknotes are very affordable, which is a large part of their appeal for new collectors. Because Egypt never experienced a hyperinflation, the interest comes from history and design rather than scarcity or extreme face values. Early National Bank of Egypt and royal-era notes command more, while modern circulating designs remain inexpensive.
What is the difference between the National Bank of Egypt and the Central Bank of Egypt?
The National Bank of Egypt, founded in 1898, was the original note-issuing bank and issued Egypt's currency until 1960. In 1961 the Central Bank of Egypt was founded and took over the issuing of the pound, which it still does today. Notes from each institution mark distinct collecting eras.
Planet Banknote is a family-owned dealership in Sarasota, Florida, founded in 2021. Every note is sourced direct from mints, central banks, and authorized distributors, inspected through our Planet Banknote Verified process, and ships with a free Certificate of Authenticity. US orders ship free via USPS Priority, and every order includes a free bonus gift.