1 Dinar BHR Banknote (1998 Wide Security Thread) 1973

1 Dinar Bahraini Dinar (Issued 1973)

Surviving examples of the 1973 series 1 Dinar Bahraini Dinar note with the 1998 wide security thread upgrade are considerably scarcer than their original print runs might suggest, as large quantities were withdrawn from circulation and destroyed upon the introduction of subsequent Bahraini Currency Board issues. The combination of heavy everyday use in Bahrain’s active commercial economy and decades of attrition means that well-preserved specimens are genuinely difficult to locate. The note occupies a historically significant position as part of the Bahrain Monetary Agency’s foundational currency programme, issued under Law No. 23 of 1973 — a landmark moment in Bahrain’s monetary independence. Both historians of Gulf state economics and those seeking to exchange old Bahraini Dinar banknotes in the UK take a particular interest in locating examples from this issue.

On the front, the note is dominated by a rich crimson and coral red colour palette, with delicate peach and pale orange tones woven throughout the intricate guilloché patterning that fills the background. Centrally positioned is the coat of arms of Bahrain — a bold red and white emblem featuring the distinctive serrated division between the two fields, rendered with precise intaglio engraving to give it a tactile, raised quality. To the right of the coat of arms sits a large circular vignette depicting an ancient Bahraini coin or seal, showing what appears to be a stylised palm tree and detailed decorative border engraving, printed in a deep brownish-red tone. To the left of the central emblem, a map outline of the Bahrain archipelago is printed in a muted orange against the guilloché ground. Arabic script appears prominently throughout the face: the issuing authority name مؤسسة نقد البحرين (Bahrain Monetary Agency) is inscribed across the upper panel within an ornately bordered cartouche, and the denomination دينار واحد (One Dinar) is displayed in large, bold Arabic lettering across the centre of the note. A secondary line of Arabic text below the issuing authority name references the legal authority — Law No. 23 of 1973. The serial number, printed in red, reads E 1720905, appearing towards the lower right of the note alongside the numeral “1” rendered in a bold typeface. Hexagonal geometric medallion motifs in deep red appear at the upper right and lower left corners, each containing a snowflake-style geometric rosette. A vertical security thread is visible as a dark embedded strip running through the note, representing the identifying 1998 wide security thread upgrade applied to this series. At the lower centre, Arabic text identifies the رئيس مجلس مؤسسة النقد (Chairman of the Board of the Monetary Agency), with a signature line present below. The overall engraving quality is fine and precise, with the guilloché work displaying tightly wound rosette and wave patterns that provide both aesthetic depth and counterfeit resistance.

The reverse presents a cooler, more architectural composition, set against a pale blue and light grey ground with warm red and orange decorative borders. The issuing authority name BAHRAIN MONETARY AGENCY is printed in clear, bold serif capitals across a red header panel at the top of the note, flanked on both sides by small ornamental geometric devices. The central vignette, occupying the left and centre portion of the reverse, depicts a meticulously engraved rendering of a large modernist building understood to be the Bahrain Monetary Agency headquarters — a multi-storey, flat-roofed structure with a grid of large glazed windows across its façade, flanked by a lower annex and surrounded by ornamental palm trees and landscaped grounds in the foreground. The engraving of this building is executed with fine cross-hatching and line work that conveys both architectural precision and depth. To the right of the central building vignette, a series of four circular medallions are arranged vertically, each containing a version of the Bahraini coat of arms, engraved in red and framed with ornamental borders. To the far right, a large hexagonal guilloché panel in warm red and pale blue provides a decorative security field. The denomination ONE DINAR is printed in English in bold red serif type at the lower right, beneath the decorative hexagonal panel. The borders of the reverse carry repeating geometric and floral ornamental bands in red and orange, consistent with the decorative language of the obverse, unifying the design across both faces of the note.

Whether it is a single 1 Dinar Bahraini Dinar banknote or a mix of leftover currency, Webuyallcurrency.com exchanges Bahraini Dinars banknotes and other foreign coins and notes for cash in one straightforward process.

• Indicate the quantity of 1 Dinar Bahraini Dinar banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Exchange foreign coins and banknotes the easy way — Webuyallcurrency.com buys Bahraini Dinars banknotes, current or discontinued, and combines them with the rest of your leftover currency for one simple payment.