Nine info about the new Syrian banknote!

 

1. Two zeros were removed from the old currency to facilitate calculation and trading.
2. The images of Hafez and Bashar al-Assad, which were printed on the old currency, were removed without adding images of other figures.
3. It carried images of agricultural crops for which Syria is famous.
4. It came in six printed denominations: 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 500, and in two unprinted denominations according to the Syrian Central Bank governor Abdul Qader Husrieh.
5. It was announced on December 25, and circulation will begin at the start of 2026, with the replacement process lasting 90 days, extendable.
6. Employees’ salaries will be paid starting next month using it, according to Finance Minister Berniya.
7. Goods will be priced in both currencies until the replacement ends.
8. A technical process representing a symbol of financial sovereignty and a marker of the economic recovery phase after liberation, according to Hasrieh.
9. No economic benefits are expected from its issuance (such as reducing inflation).

                                                                                  

Launch Ceremony

The Syrian Central Bank launched the new Syrian currency last night, December 29, in the presence of the Bank’s Governor and President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
President Ahmad al-Sharaa explained that one of the meanings of the new currency is moving away from glorifying individuals, urging Syrians to be patient, not panic during the currency replacement, and to follow the Central Bank’s instructions during the coexistence of the two currencies.
For his part, the Bank Governor said the main objectives are technical, as there is no change in the currency’s value, and the primary purpose is to simplify transactions and break with the past.
Husrieh called on banks and money exchangers to comply with Central Bank decisions and avoid speculation, and advised merchants to display goods in both the new and old currencies while adhering to regulations and laws.

                                                             

Historical Background

The Assad regime (son) replaced the Syrian currency with large denominations of 1000, 2000, and 5000 following the collapse of the Syrian pound against the dollar due to the war in July 2017. The 2000-pound note carried the image of then-President Bashar al-Assad, while the old 1000-pound note with the image of his father Hafez continued to circulate until today.

                                                       

Context

The issuance of the new currency comes amid a new phase in the Syrian economy, with billions of dollars flowing from foreign investments and aid into local projects, and an unprecedented lifting of U.S. sanctions, culminating in the U.S. Congress adopting the project to lift the burdensome Caesar sanctions, signed into law by President Trump. This opens the door for major global companies, including American ones, to invest inside the country, though without immediate reflection on Syrians’ economic conditions, as the majority still live below the poverty line according to United Nations statistics, suffering from sharp price increases, especially in food, alongside high unemployment rates.

what do you think of the design of the new banknote?

Source: SANA and other sources.
Syria News Report.